Report: Seahawks agree to deal with Lions’ DE Avril

Well, so much for the idea that the Seahawks won’t spend big in free agency after trading for Percy Harvin, then signing him to a big deal.

A day after that trade became official the Seahawks have agreed to terms on a deal with free agent defensive end Cliff Avril, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

The terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but the 26-year-old former Detroit Lion is considered the top defensive end on the free agent market, so this is certainly not going to be a small contract.

Avril, a third-round pick in 2008, had 9.5 sacks last season, and 11 sacks in 2011. The Seahawks struggled last season to generate a pass rush with anyone other than Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin, and Clemons may not be ready for the start of the season because of a knee injury suffered in the playoffs, so getting better in that area was a must for Seattle. It just wasn’t a given that Seattle would be willing to spend big to upgrade its pass rush, especially after giving so much money to Harvin.

At least one Seahawk was a fan of the move right when the news broke.

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