Seattle Seahawks: What will Russell Wilson’s extension be?

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks won 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

With Cam Newton getting over $120 million, it will be interesting to see what Russell Wilson will get from the Seattle Seahawks.

In three seasons, Russell Wilson has been to the playoffs each year. He’s been to the Super Bowl twice and while he’s already won a Super Bowl, he likely would’ve won two if the Seattle Seahawks just handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line. That’s a story for another time, but regarding Wilson, it’s only a matter of time until he gets paid like an upper-echelon quarterback, which is exactly what he is.

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While his game is unorthodox, Wilson truly is a winner. Because he plays for the Seahawks, who arguably have one of the best defenses of all-time, some people harshly criticize Wilson, but he’s simply a guy that gets the job done and prevails when needed. We saw this in the NFC Championship game where he ca e back down from a deficit of 12 in the last two minutes in the game. After tying the game up, Wilson would seal the deal in overtime on a touchdown strike.

The amazing thing about that performance is that he was having one of the worst games of his career, as he had four interceptions. There’s a common saying that NFL quarterbacks have to have a bad memory, meaning they forget about the last possession or the last play. This game was the perfect example of Wilson showing what it takes to overcome the odds and win, even though had played horrifically beforehand.

A few days ago, the Carolina Panthers awarded Cam Newton with a massive contract extension. In today’s NFL, however, where quarterbacks are so important, locking up a top-tier quarterback is a must and the Panthers needed to lock up Newton before he hit the open market. Despite that, the price they signed him for may have been a little too much.

The Panthers gave Newton a five-year deal worth about $103 million, $60 million of it being guaranteed. That’s the second-highest guaranteed total in football. When you think about it, that’s pretty insane for a quarterback who has won just one playoff game. It’s unfair to criticize Newton over that statistic, but quarterbacks are judged by their success and not by the team, which is why many people are alarmed over Newton’s extension.

With how talented their team has been over the past few years, the Seahawks have had to do a ton of works in terms of not only picking whose worth long-term contracts, but figuring out what they’re worth as well. Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Marshawn Lynch have all received contract extensions. The next of that bunch is Wilson, who will likely break the bank once he does sign the contract.

Wilson’s contract will end after the 2015 season and whether both sides figure the details out now or at the end of the season, the reality is that the Seahawks are going to be one of the best teams again in 2015. Whenever the Seahawks and Wilson’s representatives agree upon a deal, expect it to be one of the larger ones the NFL has ever seen.

Next: Can Seahawks stay on top past 2015?

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