The Seattle Seahawks faith in Cliff Avril has paid off and now the organization will bless him with a new $28.5 million deal, $14 million guaranteed.
#Seahawks have signed pass-rusher Cliff Avril to a 4-year extension worth $28.5M with $16M guaranteed, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 19, 2014
Avril would have been our choice as Super Bowl MVP last season, but this news does come as a bit of a surprise. Avril has only 4.5 sacks this season, although that number is deceiving. ProFootballFocus charts 38 quarterback hurries for Avril, and 9 quarterback hits. He’s ranked as their seventh best pass rusher at defensive end, just behind teammate Michael Bennett. Avril and Bennett both arrived as free agent bargains in 2013 and have been re-signed at larger prices.
Only 28 years old, Avril provides a quality veteran pass rushing option along with Bennett. The Seahawks can look for a pass rusher of the future in the draft with the knowledge that their starting lineup is essentially set for the next few years. Pete Carroll has made it clear that he’s going to spend to keep his defense together, while hoping to develop the offense along the way.