Seahawks deal Peterson to Lions

The Seattle Seahawks, unable to get disappointing pass-rusher Julian Peterson to take a pay cut, traded him to Detroit Saturday for defensive lineman Cory Redding, who is in the midst of a big contract of his own.

The trade comes at a very curious time for Detroit. The Lions are hosting a candidate to be the first pick in the draft, linebacker Aaron Curry of Wake Forest, at their facility in Allen Park, Mich., this weekend. Though Peterson and Curry are not the same type of player, one major question with draft implications is this: Would the acquisition of Peterson, with his $8.8 million salary this year, eliminate the possibility of drafting Curry?

Peterson, 30, had just five sacks in 2008 and was part of the reason why the Seahawks' vaunted linebacking crew contributed to an awful season in MikeHolmgren's last year as coach. Rather than live with his $8.8 million cap charge this year, the Seahawks by dealing him will only get hit with $4.6 million cap fee -- the remaining total from the contract he signed with the team in 2006.

Peterson will be counted on by new Lions coach Jim Schwartz to give his team the edge pass-rusher the team doesn't have. Peterson has shown flashes of being a great rush linebacker, but he's given the 49ers">49ers and Seahawks only 46 sacks in nine seasons.

Redding, 28, entering the third year of a seven-year, $49 million deal, finished last season on injured reserve with knee and groin injuries. He'll immediately bolster one of Seattle's weaknesses -- a low-pressure defensive line -- made worse by the loss of defensive tackle Rocky Bernard to the Giants in free-agency this month.