PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Using so much of free agency to date to re-sign or bring in new starters, now the Steelers used it to add to their depth on Monday.
Outside linebacker Genard Avery gets a one-year contract to battle to backup TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Avery was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2018. Last season he started 12 games with the Eagles with a sack, four tackles for loss and 43 tackles. The 26-year-old would play in 16 total games in 2021 playing 34% of the defensive snaps and 24% of the special teams snaps.
Avery played 18 games with the Browns with four passes defended, a forced fumble and fumble recovery along with 4.5 sacks on 40 tackles. That forced fumble came against the Steelers as did a couple of quarterback hits in his career.
A four-year player and three-year starter at Memphis, Avery had 21.5 sacks, 44.5 tackles for loss, with two interceptions returned for touchdowns during his college career.
Derrek Tuszka and John Simon are the other outside linebackers currently on the Steelers roster to battle Avery for playing time. Taco Charlton remains a free agent.
Watt played 73% of the defensive snaps in his 15 games. Highsmith played in 16 games, playing 76% of the snaps in 2021.



