Not long after reuniting with Carl Nassib, the Buccaneers are adding another edge-rushing piece to their equation. They are signing Genard Avery, according to InsidetheBirds.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
The Steelers made Avery one of their Tuesday cuts, moving their roster down to the new 80-man limit. This came as a bit of a surprise, but Avery will nevertheless have another chance to catch on as a rotational rusher somewhere.
Avery also has experience as an off-ball linebacker, with the Eagles trying the young defender in this role last season. The Eagles used Avery as a 12-game starter in 2021, though he played just 34% of the team’s defensive snaps. Avery made 43 tackles (four for loss) and registered a sack in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked Avery 56th among regular linebackers last season.
The Browns traded the former fifth-round pick to the Eagles during the 2019 season. As a rookie, Avery showed some pass-rushing chops by notching 4.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits despite starting only five games. He has not been able to replicate that production as a rusher in the years since.
Tampa Bay returns Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on the edge, having said goodbye to Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason. Nassib signed on a one-year deal worth the league minimum. Avery likely agreed to the same terms.
I don’t know where Tampa is getting this money from, but it’s good on them to add someone who was expected to be a high level backup. Avery isn’t a world-beater, but he can play a lot of snaps and is a solid backup/mid grade starter. Depth is never a bad thing. Tampa looks to have given Tryin-Shoyinka the snaps once occupied by Pierre-Paul, so adding another veteran behind the young starter should help the transition.