Clayton predicts timing, numbers on Russell Wilson’s extension

How much it will be worth and when it will be signed are the two biggest questions regarding Russell Wilson’s contract extension, which is currently being negotiated between the Seahawks and their quarterback. John Clayton offered his predictions during Thursday’s edition of “Cold Hard Facts” on 710 ESPN Seattle.

Clayton believes it will be a four-year extension worth between $84 million and $87 million (which averages out to $21-$21.75 million a season). That would be considered new money since the extension would be added onto the final year of Wilson’s rookie deal, in which he’s scheduled to make $1.5 million. The new-money average would rank third among quarterbacks, right behind Ben Roethlisberger and ahead of Cam Newton.

Clayton believes Wilson’s extension will include considerably more fully guaranteed money – i.e. guaranteed at signing – than the $31 million that Newton received. His prediction is between $45 million and $49 million fully guaranteed for Wilson.

Wilson said Tuesday that he’s “100 percent” prepared to play out the final year of his rookie deal if need be, reiterating what his agent, Mark Rodgers, told 710 ESPN Seattle last week. Clayton, though, believes a deal will get done some time between the middle of June and right before the start of training camp in late July.

Here’s the link to the podcast. The Wilson conversation begins at the 5:07 mark.