As the Cleveland Browns have slowly pulled themselves out of the dregs of the NFL landscape, more and more former players are finding the ability to stick around the league. At one point, only a few former Browns scattered the league. A lot of Johnny Manziel, Justin Gilbert and Brandon Weeden making it six or fewer years in the league.
There, of course, were the Mitchell Schwartz, Alex Mack and Joe Hadens who went on to be successful after playing for the struggling squad in Cleveland.
Constant turnover in the front office and coaching staff of the Browns often led to roster turnover before players got a chance to solidify themselves in the league.
Two more former Cleveland players found their way to a division rival on Thursday:
Steelers announced they signed LB Genard Avery and S Karl Joseph to one-year contracts.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 31, 2022
Avery was drafted by the Browns in 2018 before being dealt to Philadelphia in 2019. That trade gave the team an extra fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft where they selected James Hudson III. Avery played 18 games for Cleveland collecting 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
With the Eagles for 35 games, Avery only added three sacks, six tackles for loss and 10 more quarterback hits.
Joseph was signed by Cleveland in Andrew Berry’s first year as the team’s general manager after being a first-round pick in 2016. in 14 games for the Browns, Joseph had one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
He signed to return to Las Vegas but was waived by the team. He spent time on Pittsburgh’s practice squad in 2021 and played in two games.