Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks agree to contract extension
The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson have agreed to a four-year contract extension.
As late as Thursday evening there was pessimism that Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks would be able to reach an agreement on a new contract. However, on Friday, both sides barely beat the clock, with the parties settling on a deal worth $87.6 million over the course of four years. According to SI’s Peter King, the deal also includes a $31 million signing bonus, with roughly $60 million of the contract being guaranteed.
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks have agreed to a 4-year, $87.6-million extension, per source.
— Peter King (@peter_king) July 31, 2015
The new Wilson deal includes a $31-million signing bonus, with approximately $60-million guaranteed.
— Peter King (@peter_king) July 31, 2015
Wilson’s new deal averages out to approximately $21.9 per season, which is second-most of all quarterbacks in the National Football League. Only Aaron Rodgers’ $22 million is better.
The deal averages $21.9-miilion a year, a smidge less than top deal in football, Aaron Rodgers’ $22-million per.
— Peter King (@peter_king) July 31, 2015
QB salary standings now:
— Peter King (@peter_king) July 31, 2015
QB Annual pay
1 ARodgers $22m
2 Wilson $21.9m
3 BenR $21.85m
4 Cam $20.76m
In only three seasons, Wilson has guided the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLVIII and coming within an eyelash of claiming Super Bowl XLIX. Moreover, he has never missed the playoffs – falling to Atlanta in the Divisional Round of his rookie year. On his career, Wilson has 72 regular season touchdowns to only 26 interceptions; his postseason mark is 12 TDs and 6 INTs (5 of which came in last year’s playoffs, and none more crippling than the one to end Super Bowl XLIX).
One of the main points of conversation in the run up to Wilson’s extension was whether he was worth a big-money contract. More pointedly: if he is a byproduct of Seattle’s success, or if team’s catalyst.
While Wilson is usually considered the pejoratively coined “game manager,” it’s mainly because there is little need for the quarterback to play outside of himself. Seattle’s defense is commanding, and its run game controls the clock. He takes what is given, and counts victories alongside his other stats. However, he has shown an ability to shed the label, most notably in the fourth quarter comeback of last season’s NFC Championship Game.
With the signing, Wilson becomes the latest young quarterback to ink a big-money deal this summer – joining Ryan Tannehill (6 years, $96 million) and Cam Newton (5 years, $103.8 million).
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