Seattle Seahawks Rumors: Russell Wilson Appears Headed For Free Agency After Turning Down Team’s Latest Offer
The Seattle Seahawks are rumored to have a quarterback controversy ahead after Russell Wilson reportedly turned down the team’s $21 million per year offer, and may be headed to free agency.
The team and the Super Bowl-winning quarterback have been working on a new contract for several months, but appear to have gotten nowhere. Wilson turned down the deal the team offered late last week, reportedly because he had issues with the amount of money upfront and the guaranteed money in the contract.
Russell Wilson would have received significantly less than the latest quarterback to sign, Cam Newton, NFL.com‘s Ian Rapoport noted.
“For instance, the Panthers gave Cam Newton $30 million cash up front in his new extension,” Rapoport wrote. “By contrast, sources familiar with the situation say Wilson would make (under the latest offer) below $20 million cash up front. Those in Seattle say there are significant guarantees, but most of the guarantees are simply for injury only.”
Rumors indicate that Russell Wilson wants a larger portion of his contract to be fully guaranteed. The standstill between Wilson and the team may come down to owner Paul Allen’s stance on the issue of guaranteed money, Pro Football Talk reported.
“Not because owner Paul Allen can’t afford to set the money aside,” Mike Florio wrote. “He definitely can. But the thinking is that he doesn’t want to, either because he disagrees with the funding concept or because the league wants teams to resist making greater percentages of player contracts fully guaranteed.”
The impasse appears to make it more likely that Russell Wilson will head to free agency. The Seattle Seahawks have one year left on Wilson’s rookie contract and then will be able to place the franchise tag on him for two years, but after that it’s likely he will follow the money.
Ian Rapoport had previously reported that Wilson wants to get “free agent money” in his new deal, meaning there would be no hometown discount for the Seattle Seahawks.
“It’s not that Wilson wants to hit free agency, according to a source who has spoken with him. It’s that he wants to be paid as if he did. Meanwhile, thoughts of a fully guaranteed contract have not left his mind, especially with an agent who regularly negotiates such deals with baseball players.”
Whatever happens between Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, the rumors aren’t likely to get resolution anytime soon. Reports indicate that Wilson’s agent Mark Rodgers will cut off negotiations once training camp starts, meaning it could be a long time before the sides sit down at the table again.
[Picture by Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images]
