When is a Fastball Also a Curveball?

The Eagles made a move on Monday. Was it a DT or a CB? Did they find a WR to add to the mix? Did they get a former Pro Bowler or first round pick?

No to all of that.

Roster Move: #Eagles have acquired DE Genard Avery from Cleveland in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2021.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/UsKZIUoudF

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 28, 2019

What?

Here’s my guess on the Eagles thinking.  The team has good starting DEs in Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett. The backups, however, have been erratic. Vinny Curry still has a good motor and is a solid run defender, but he’s no longer an explosive pass rusher. Josh Sweat has shown real flashes, but still has limited production. Daeshon Hall is productive when he plays, but can’t seem to get on the field. Rookie Shareef Miller hasn’t played much at all.

The Eagles must feel Avery is a player they can plug in right away and get more production from. This is a sign they want to win this year, while still keeping an eye on the future. Avery is 24 years old. He’s cheap and he’s under contract through the end of 2021. This isn’t a veteran rental like Golden Tate was.

Avery was a fifth round pick in 2018 and showed real promise as a rookie. He started five games and had 4.5 sacks, 5 TFLs and a FF. The defensive coordinator was Greggggg Williams, who runs a 4-3. Avery was listed as a LB, but played mostly as an edge rusher. PFF, which I struggle with at times, had him second on the Browns in both QB hurries and pressures.

This year Steve Wilks was hired as DC and he hasn’t embraced Avery. How much so? Avery has been inactive for five weeks and only played a handful of snaps all year. Wilks says this is about STs and run defense, but that is hard to buy with someone who was an impact pass rusher the year before. This feels more like a coach punishing someone who isn’t one of “his guys”.

Avery is a talented player and he can help the Eagles. He has a good burst off the ball. He uses his hands well. Avery is a physical rusher. He can win with speed, but can also get under a blocker’s pads and move him backward.

I had mixed feelings on Avery when he was coming out of college. He was 6-1, 248 and had 31-inch arms. I listed him as an ILB because that’s awfully small for an edge rusher. The Eagles had high hopes for Joe Ostman this summer. Ostman was 6-2, 253 coming out of college. Jim Schwartz talked of using Ostman in a stand-up role in some packages. Avery could handle that role now.

The only real negative for me is the cost. The Eagles gave up a fourth round pick in 2021 for Avery. That’s a bit more than I would have wanted to pay for a former fifth round pick who had only played a handful of snaps this year. If Avery is able to become an effective pass rusher for the Eagles, that pick could end up being a bargain.

There is a flip side. If Avery comes here and struggles to get on the field for whatever mysterious reason, this will prove to be a waste of a good draft pick.

The @Eagles loved Genard Avery in 2018 draft as a developmentant edge rusher who had explosiveness and toughness playing for Memphis. Avery ranked high among rookies with QB pressures. The @Browns have depth and were able to get 4th rd pick in 2021, per sources.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 28, 2019

The Eagles were high on Hassan Ridgeway and he did play well for the team this year. There are other guys the Eagles liked who didn’t come close to panning out so this doesn’t guarantee success.

One of the keys here is that the Eagles know what they are getting into. They wanted Avery. They know his size limitations, but value him as a pass rusher. They’ll have a plan for how to use him. And I do think he fits the scheme well. He reminds me a bit of Brandon Graham in terms of build and style of play.

One thing that stood out on film about Avery? His effectiveness on stunts. With his movement skills he's a problem both as a penetrator and as a looper both inside and outside in various pressure packages. That versatility will play well with different looks #Eagles have shown pic.twitter.com/ZrPM4Em9zx

— Fran Duffy (@fduffy3) October 28, 2019

My favorite part about watching @AveryGenard though? The motor. Guy FLIES around the field. He's going to fit right in with this DL group and the way they want to play up front in this scheme #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/5KQsba0ko5

— Fran Duffy (@fduffy3) October 28, 2019

*****

Are the Eagles done?

We’ll have to see about that. The trading deadline is Tuesday at 4pm.

A few hunches on where some of the most-coveted trade options end up – AJ Green/Saints (if CIN ownership accepts reality and relents on trade talks) , Trent Williams/Browns, OJ Howard/Pats, Chris Harris/Eagles, Derek Wolfe/Colts, Des Trufant/Chiefs, Robby Anderson/Jags

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 29, 2019

I’m not sure I would make this move.

The Eagles have Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills back on the outside. Rasul Douglas offers depth there.

Sidney Jones played in the slot on Sunday. Avonte Maddox and Cre’Von LeBlanc are on the way back.

Is Harris good enough to trade for when you’re going to get 8 games out of him? I’m just not sure this makes sense anymore.

I would still love to see the Eagles go after a WR. No rumors on that front that I’ve seen.

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