KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent
defensive end Grant Wistrom to a multiyear contract Thursday.
Wistrom signed a six-year, $33 million deal that
includes a $14 million signing bonus, ESPN.com's John Clayton reports, the richest such bonus in Seahawks' history.
Wistrom, 27, had 7½ sacks for the St. Louis Rams last season.
The Seahawks hope he can provide a consistent pass rush that they
lacked during the 2003 season, when they were 10-6 and made the
playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.
"I know I'm not the strongest guy or the fastest guy on the
field, but most of the guys on the field, I'm going to outwork
them," Wistrom told reporters at a news conference at team headquarters.
Wistrom visited the Seahawks on Wednesday and stayed overnight.
His agent Tom Condon joined him Thursday and started negotiations with team
president Bob Whitsitt.
"I'm not the type of guy who likes to drag things out,"
Wistrom said. "I want to get in here and get to work."
Wistrom was scheduled to visit the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals next week.
Wistrom was generally regarded as the second-best defensive end
in this year's free-agent pool behind Jevon Kearse, who agreed to a
$66 million, six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that
includes a $16 million signing bonus.
The Seahawks targeted defensive end as one of their top
offseason needs, along with re-signing wide receiver Darrell Jackson and defensive tackle Cedric Woodard. Both are still on the
free agent market.
"We wanted to get a defensive lineman, first of all, and we
focused on a defensive end," coach Mike Holmgren said. "The two
premier guys in free agency were Kearse and Wistrom. So that's what
we targeted, and we're tickled pink about it. It makes us better
right away."
Although the Seahawks ranked in the middle of the pack with 40
sacks last season, their pass rush was inconsistent.
Wistrom is expected to help shore up that area from his position
on the right side of the line.
Wistrom spent the first six years of his career in St. Louis,
where he had 41½ sacks.
The Seahawks, as expected, this week lost free agent cornerback
Shawn Springs, who signed a $30 million, six-year contract with the
Washington Redskins.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.