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Sources: Third team in pursuit of CFL pass rusher
14 hours ago by AdamCaplan
As previously first reported by FOXSports.com, two teams, the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings have shown interest in signing Canadian Football League DE Phillip Hunt. Two sources said another team, the Philadelphia Eagles, have shown interest in Hunt.
Hunt ,25, worked out for the Texans on Dec. 28, Cleveland Browns (Dec. 16), Vikings (Dec. 18), New England Patriots (Dec. 20) and Eagles (Dec. 14).
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 picks up on Feb. 15, so he must sign with an NFL team by that date or he’ll be back in the CFL for another season.
Hunt (6-1, 248), 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 signed with the Blue Bombers in September of that year. He was the CFL’s top pass rusher this past season with 16 sacks.
The Texans are shifting to a 3-4 defensive scheme this coming season. Although Hunt played with his hand down in Winnipeg’s 4-3 defensive scheme, he did have limited experience in the 3-4 during his time with the Browns.
Two out of the Vikings top-three pass rushers, Ray Edwards and Brian Robison, are unsigned for next season.
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.
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 during the 2010 season with 14 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
A pro personnel source said Hunt is not nearly advanced as Wake is as a pass rusher, but he should be able to handle at least 10 plays per game next season at the NFL level.