Cleveland Browns have made a trade prior to the NFL trade deadline, but not the one you would expect. Browns announced on Monday that they have traded linebacker/defensive end Genard Avery to Philadelphia Eagles for an undisclosed draft pick.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Eagles sent fourth-rounder to Cleveland in exchange for Avery.
Avery, who was a fifth-round pick in 2018, had an encouraging rookie season in which he contributed with 40 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and one forced fumbles in 16 games (five starts). This season, however, the 24-year-old pass rusher played only two games.
The reason why Genard Avery had a hard time getting on the field in 2019 wasn’t injuries, but the fact that he didn’t fit in the schemes of new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Avery was inactive for most of the Browns’ games in the past eight weeks and has played only five defensive snaps in 2019. He contributed with one tackle.
According to Cleveland.com, Avery was unhappy with his role on the team and has asked Browns’ general manager John Dorsey to trade him. Dorsey rejected the request at first but ended up changing his mind when he received Eagles’ offer.
