The National Football League trade deadline took place on Tuesday and leading up to the deadline there were three deals involving defensive players. According to the Sporting News, the New York Giants acquired defensive lineman Leonard Williams from the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles acquired linebacker Genard Avery from the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Then on Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins acquired cornerback Aqib Talib from the Los Angeles Rams.
Williams went to the Giants for a third round draft pick in 2020 and a fifth round draft pick in 2021. The USC product from Bakersfield, California had 20 tackles for the Jets in 2019. He joins a Giants team that is only marginally better than the Jets. The Giants are 2-6 and the Jets are 1-6.
Avery is the only player of the three going from a team out of a playoff spot to a contender. The Eagles are 4-4 at the moment and only half a game back of the Dallas Cowboys for first in the NFC East. It has been a bitterly disappointing season for the 2-5 Cleveland Browns. More was expected with the addition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns will receive an undisclosed draft pick in 2021 in return. So far in 2019, Avery only has one tackle after having 40 tackles for Cleveland in 2018.
Talib meanwhile is past his prime at age 33. The Dolphins will be Talib’s fifth NFL team as he has also played for the Rams, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So far in 2019, Talib has 14 tackles in five games. The five-time Pro Bowler will now try to provide defensive leadership to a Dolphins team still looking for their first regular season win of the season. Talib was traded with a fifth round draft pick in 2020 and the Rams received a seventh round draft pick.
