The Eagles announced today that they've signed defensive end Phillip Hunt to a three year deal. The 6-0, 248 Hunt led the CFL in sacks last year with 16 as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 25 year old played his college ball at the University of Houston, where he was named Conference USA player of the year in 2008.
No doubt NFL teams have paid a bit of extra attention to pass rushers in the CFL after the success the Miami Dolphins had this past season with Cameron Wake. Wake moved from the CFL to the NFL and racked up 14.5 sacks and a pro bowl appearance. While it almost absurd to expect that kind of production from Hunt, it at least seems like a gamble worth taking. At best he's a productive member of the defense that you get for very little and at worst he's out the door before the season begins and that's that.
Hunt had also worked out for the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings.