Seahawks sign Cliff Avril to four-year extension

RENTON – Another day, another big-budget extension for Seattle’s defense.

On Thursday it was linebacker K.J. Wright getting a new deal. On Friday, defensive end Cliff Avril.

Both deals were for four years. Each will average about $7 million per year with Avril’s checking in just a tick above. His deal is worth a maximum of $28.5 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, who broke the news.

“Cliff has been instrumental in what we’ve been building on the defensive side of the ball and we are excited that he’ll be with us for another four years,” general manager John Schneider said in a press release. “He has been relentless in his approach to the game and his passion for winning is contagious. This is another great day for the Seahawks and the 12s.”

It’s one more deal that shows just how serious Seattle is about keeping the nucleus of this defense together from the secondary where Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman all signed second contracts to the linebackers with Wright now to the defensive line where Avril joins Michael Bennett as players Seattle invested in long-term.

And really, that’s fitting. Avril and Bennett came to Seattle the same year, each signing shorter-term contracts as free agents in March 2013. At the time, the Seahawks were credited for using the a two-year window of cash available before quarterback Russell Wilson was eligible for an extension.

Well, Bennett was re-signed in the offseason and now Avril has been extended as well. Avril, 28, is a speed rusher off the edge who had more than eight sacks each of the past four seasons. Three of those years were with Detroit. This year, Avril has 4.5 sacks.

The departure of Percy Harvin this year certainly changed some of Seattle’s salary-cap math, especially with the reality of Wilson’s extension looming in May.

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