Lions sign third-round pick Avril
By PFW staff
July 14, 2008
The Lions signed one of their three third-round draft picks, DE Cliff Avril, to a three-year deal Monday.
Avril played both linebacker and defensive end at Purdue and tested at both positions before the draft, but the Lions plan to use him as an open-side end (usually on the right side) in their Tampa-2 defense. Avril played left end as a senior.
The Lions drafted Avril with the 92nd overall selection in April, acquiring the pick in a trade with the Cowboys.
In the 2008 Draft Preview book, PFW draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki says Avril “developed a reputation as a 1-for-4 hitter, disappearing every three snaps, and was most effective when he lined up at strong-side linebacker as a junior.”
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