Former NFL agent/executive forecasts Russell Wilson’s next deal
Feb 9, 2015, 10:01 AM | Updated: 10:33 am
Russell Wilson will likely be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks upon signing an extension this offseason. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, having just completed the three years of NFL service time that are required before making alterations to a rookie deal. Wilson’s has a year remaining, but after leading Seattle to two Super Bowls, winning one of them and notching more regular-season victories than any quarterback in his first three seasons since 1966, the bill has come due. It’s just a matter of how hefty that bill is going to be.
Perhaps nobody in sports media has a better sense of what it might look like than Andrew Brandt, who has been on both sides of the negotiating table as a member of the Packers’ front office and a player representative. Brandt, who now works for ESPN and Sports Illustrated, joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Danny, Dave and Moore” last week and offered his forecast of Wilson’s next deal.
Russell Wilson says he’s not thinking about new contract yet
The bottom-line figures, in Brandt’s estimation: More than $20 million a season and more than $60 million guaranteed.
How he arrived at those figures is by starting with the megadeals that were signed in 2013, removing from consideration the second-tier contracts that were given last offseason to Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith on the basis that Wilson is in a class above those quarterbacks.
Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Tony Romo all signed deals exceeding $100 million in total value, ranging from around $18 million to $22 million in average annual value and including between roughly $52 million and $59 million in guaranteed money. Brandt believes those deals should provide a baseline for what Wilson and Andrew Luck will make per year and in guarantees.
“I think they will hit that number and go beyond it …” Brandt said, “if only – and again, speaking as if I’m their agent – if only because we’re two years removed. You can make all the arguments about Wilson versus Romo, Rodgers, Ryan, Flacco, and Luck versus those guys, but the fact is inflation happens, cap goes up, they are in that class at the minimum and they will exceed that.”
Brandt went on to discuss the different ways Seattle might structure Wilson’s deal, what the market will be for cornerback Byron Maxwell and what he thinks the Seahawks might be willing to pay running back Marshawn Lynch if the two sides work out an extension this offseason. You can listen to the interview here.
