Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson is No. 41?

By Raphael Garcia | Jun 23, 2015

January 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second half in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

If jobs as professional athletes were just like those in the corporate world, athletes would love to receive salary increases based on performance appraisals rather than messy contract negotiations. In this make believe world, earning a large salary would be based on the results that were produced on the field. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would be one to benefit such a structure. Especially since at this point in 2015 there are 40 other quarterbacks set to earn more than a player that has started the last two Super Bowls.

The 2015 Quarterback Cash Rankings (courtesy of Spotrac) reveals something very interesting this coming year. Wilson current sits tied for the 41st position among all quarterbacks in the league. He’s currently tied with Nick Foles and Austin Davis of the St. Louis Rams. All three of these players are expected to bring in $1,542,000 in total cash at this point.

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As Sportrac mentions, these figures include “the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses” for said position.

Wilson is currently in negotiations for a new deal. According to a report by Terry Blount of ESPN, Wilson is looking for a deal worth $110 million dollars over five years. The deal is very similar in structure to that signed by Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers in recent weeks (as documented by Kevin Patra of NFL.com).

However, there is one major difference between Newton and Wilson; Wilson has a Super Bowl ring to his name.

Football is clearly a team game. Yet, Wilson has been a central piece in the foundation that has led the Seahawks to two straight Super Bowls. Even though they are living in the regret of this year’s play calling on the 1-yard line, it goes without saying that Wilson was a major cog both on and off the field.

January 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) meets with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) following the 31-17 victory in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Blount goes on to speculate as to whether or not Wilson would be willing to play for other teams throughout the NFL. Surely there will be a long list of interested suitors, including the aforementioned Rams.

Wilson has even stated that he believes in a “reciprocal relationship” in reference to the development of his new contract.

The question now sits in the hands of the Seahawks and if they wish to spend major dollars to keep their star quarterback. Currently, the team has a little less than $10 million dollars in cap space for the upcoming year. That means in order to sign Wilson the team will have to figure out how to restructure its current roster to make space for the type of deal that Wilson commands.

Players such as Matt Moore, Ryan Mallet and Blake Bortles should count the days in which they can say they make more money than a Super Bowl winning quarterback. The days they can say such as numbered. If Wilson gets his way, and he most likely will from some NFL organization, his next deal will see him sitting towards the top of the list for highest paid quarterbacks. This is exactly where he should be based on his performance during the last few seasons.

Next: Russell Wilson: To be or not to be elite.

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