Sources: Eagles expected to sign CFL's top pass rusher
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to sign Canadian Football League DE Phillip Hunt, two sources told FOXSports.com. Hunt is expected to take a team physical on Friday then sign a three-year contract.
Hunt (6-1, 248), who worked out for the Eagles, also worked out for the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. The Vikings and Texans showed the most interest in him other than the Eagles.
The window to sign CFL players expires on Feb. 15. The CFL free agency period starts the next day. Hunt’s option on his contract would have picked up on Feb. 15.
Hunt, who posted 19 sacks over the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, went unselected in the 2009 NFL Draft. He signed with the Browns a few days after the draft, but was waived during the preseason. He later signed with the Blue Bombers in September of that year. He was the CFL’s top pass rusher this season with 16 sacks.
The defensive lineman out of the University of Houston is the latest sack artist to come out of the league north of the border.
Miami Dolphins second-year OLB Cameron Wake was a former two-time CFL player of the year. He finished third in the NFL this season with 14-1/2 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
And just like Wake, some teams that worked out Hunt saw him as an outside linebacker. However, he will play with his hand down in Philadelphia’s 4-3 defensive scheme.
The Eagles seemingly have pretty good depth at defensive end with Trent Cole, Juqua Parker, Darryl Tapp and Brandon Graham. However, Parker turns 33 in May, Cole turns 29 in October and Graham is coming off of ACL surgery.
If he performs up to expectation this coming season, Hunt could see 10-20 snaps or more a game in a situational pass-rushing role. He could also see a role as a "joker", which is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end.
