The Seahawks will have a bargain on Russell Wilson within two years
By John Buhler
Within two years, Russell Wilson’s contract will look like a bargain for the Seattle Seahawks, as he is under contract through the 2023 NFL season.
The four-year, $140 million contract Russell Wilson signed will quickly turn into a bargain.
The Seattle Seahawks paid their star quarterback top-dollar last April. It was a huge bit of coin for a signal-caller not every football fan is sold on for some reason.
Over time, the contract Wilson signed will look less imposing. That’s because a handful of starting quarterbacks are set to make bank in the coming years. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is impending free agent. The Cowboys could tag him, but he’s going to be making well over $35 million annually on a new long-term deal by whoever signs him this year or next.
After Prescott, the two first-round star quarterbacks from the 2017 NFL Draft will be up for new deals. No, we’re not talking about Mitchell Trubisky getting an extension to struggle throwing the ball down field some more. Obviously, we’re talking about Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans, as both will get extensions before their rookie deals are up.
Mahomes could be the first to $40 million annually. Should Watson get paid after Mahomes does and after the new CBA is ratified, the Texans’ star quarterback will could also approach $200 million on a sweet, five-year deal.
Once Prescott, Mahomes and Watson get paid, next up will be reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner was drafted the year after Mahomes and Watson in the 2018 NFL Draft class. Thus far, he’s the best of the five first-rounders from that class, though there could be others like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold or Josh Allen who could pop.
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By the time the 2021 season rolls around, Wilson’s four-year deal signed in 2019 will look like a total bargain for the Seahawks. Though there is a potential out after the 2022 season, he could play it out through the 2023 campaign. Keep in mind Wilson’s new extension doesn’t kick in until this new league year is under way. The Seahawks are in outstanding shape.