Browns trade LB Genard Avery to Eagles

The Cleveland Browns traded linebacker Genard Avery to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2021.

According to Mary Kay Cabot at cleveland.com, Avery asked to be traded and Dorsey gave in despite wanting to keep Avery on the roster.

Avery was a pleasant surprise as a rookie after being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Heralded as one of general manager John Dorsey’s “finds,” Avery made five starts and finished with 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Expectations were high for Avery entering his second season as he looked to be a viable part of a defensive end rotation with starters Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon. That role never materialized under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, however, as Avery was a healthy scratch most weeks and appeared in just two games as the Browns opted to go with Chris Smith and Chad Thomas as the backup defensive ends.

Avery is the second of Dorsey’s 2018 draft picks to be traded in recent weeks as the Browns previously sent offensive lineman Austin Corbett to the Los Angeles Rams on October 15 for a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.