The Detroit Lions applied non-exclusive franchise tag on defensive end Cliff Avril before next Monday's 4 p.m. deadline.
Unless a long-term deal can be worked out before July 15, Avril is set to earn approximately $10.6 million next season. The raise is from his 2011 salary of $2.61 million.
The tag ensured Avril will stay with Lion in 2012. To fit Avril's salary in under the cap, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew now have to find a way to re-sign free agents Stephen Tulloch, Jeff Backus and Eric Wright.
"It is not our desire to franchise Cliff," Mayhew said last month during the NFL Combine. "We don't want to do that. That's not a good option for Cliff. That's not a good option for us. The only worse option is playing without him.
"Cliff is a young player, a talented player who plays a critical position in our defense. We have been trying to get to this point where we are in the situation where we are winning 10 games and getting to the playoffs. It's hard to let a player like Cliff Avril go."
Avril had said he did not want the franchise tag.
"The thing is, I wanted a deal last year," he said last month. "They told me I had to play and prove myself. I feel like now I should be compensated. I've been putting in the work. I've been trying to improve every year. I have done what they wanted me to do.
"I think the right thing to do is to give me a long-term contract."
Since Avril was drafted by the Lions in 2008, the 25-year-old has improved his sack total each season. In 57 games total, he has 30 sacks, 133 tackles, 14 forced fumbles.
