Russell Wilson Contract: Seattle Seahawks And QB Agree To Blockbuster Deal
Quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks have come to terms on a new contract, according to Sports Illustrated and MMQB’s Peter King.
King reports the deal also includes a $31 million signing bonus, and $60 million in guaranteed money. The average salary of the deal comes in at $21.9 million, just a shade under the $22 million Aaron Rodgers earns with the Green Bay Packers.
As the 26-year-old entered the final year of his rookie contract, Seattle and Wilson tried throughout the offseason to iron out a new deal, with guaranteed and upfront money the main hurdles.
Wilson reportedly instituted a deadline for negotiations to end if a deal wasn’t reached by the start of training camp. The Seahawks report to camp Friday, and King tweeted how Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Wilson’s agent Mark Rodgers just beat the deadline with two hours and 20 minutes left.
Wilson was reportedly hoping to land a deal that made him the NFL’s highest paid player after earning a shade under $1.6 million in his first three years in the league. His inexpensive contract was one of the main reasons Seattle was able to assemble and keep their historic defense together, and claim the NFC Conference title the last two seasons.
Many in the NFL believed a deal would get done and that there was little risk of Wilson leaving Seattle. He's become one of the most appreciated players in the club's history and is considered among the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.
Wilson expressed his joy with the new deal on Twitter.
Since Seattle drafted him in the third round of the 2012 draft, Wilson’s accumulated a 36-12 record in the regular season with 9,950 yards, 72 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and a 98.6 passer rating.
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