Seattle Seahawks Extend Quarterback Russell Wilson With A $87.6 Million Salary

Russell Wilson, the Seahawk quarterback who almost tasted a SuperBowl victory last season but followed his coach’s decision to pass instead of run the ball with Marshawn Lynch, has been extended a massive, and I mean massive, contract extension.

Seattle has shocked some critics, but Pete King of MMQB states that they have signed Wilson to a four year $87.6 million extension – not including a $31 million signing bonus and $60 million in guaranteed money. It is an exorbitant sum of money that the young quarterback has received, but it is not the highest that the league has seen. A couple of years back, it cost the San Francisco 49ers $126 million to extend quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s contract. He also beat out Wilson by $1 million more in guaranteed money, setting the record for young QBs.

Prior to the signing of the multi-million dollar contract, many wondered how much Wilson would accept from Seattle, given that Cam Newton had received a $104 million extension, thus increasing his possible asking price. No one, however, questioned that they would re-sign him, merely asking, how much it would set them back. And set back in terms roster decisions to cut Super Bowl talent down the line due to an $87.6 million cap in the Seahawk’s budget.

This deal, though, guarantees Seattle a top-caliber quarterback for the next five year – which are five possible Super Bowl berths – a positive return on investment. The only question they will have to figure out is how they will keep their team young so that they can ensure their spot in the NFC.

In a statement from Seahawks general manager, John Schneider to a radio station in February, which was transcribed by NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, the extension had been forecasted long before the actual re-signing he said:

I think Russell Wilson wants to win championships. We talk about being a consistent championship-caliber football team, and that means thinking outside the box a lot of times. We will do that with Russell. Russell knows there are certain dominoes that have to fall in line or fall in place. He knows it. He gets it. He wants to win. He wants to win for a long time.

Today’s QB game has shifted away from the pocket passer and field vision artist to the runner (think RGIII and Michael Vick.) But not for Wilson, who is many times referred to as a “manager.” Not that any team would care what he’s called as a 63.4 completion rate with a 72 touchdowns to 26 interceptions ratio speaks for itself.

Now to see if I can manage to even get a quarter of what he does. If I do, I’ll be a happy camper.