Maybe Russell Wilson didn't receive a market-setting deal when agreed to sign a four-year, $87.6 million extension with the Seahawks on Friday, but a closer look at the contract shows the Seahawks quarterback made out just fine.
Here are Wilson's base salaries and cap numbers:
| Breaking down Russell Wilson's contract | ||
| Year | Base salary | Cap number |
| 2015 | $700K | $6.9M |
| 2016 | 12.3M | 18.5M |
| 2017 | 12.6M | 18.8M |
| 2018 | 15.5M | 21.7M |
| 2019 | 17.0M | 23.2M |
Wilson gets $31 million to sign, with $20 million coming on Aug. 10. The remainder is due in April.
The cap numbers are very manageable and can be lowered more by turning $10 million or more of base to bonus in a year like 2016 or 2017 -- and spreading it over the remainder. With the cap soaring and with quarterback salaries on the rise, these sides could easily be back at the bargaining table by 2017.
That $31M, plus Wilson's $700k base in '15 constitute fully guaranteed money at the time of signing. But I bet they're back at table by '18
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 1, 2015
Wilson's $31 million in true guaranteed money at signing is well below many top quarterback deals. His $56.6 million over the first three years of the deal is well below the $67 million Cam Newton received or the $65 million Ben Roethlisberger got. However, Wilson was negotiating off a measly third-round rookie deal and set to make just $1.5 million this year -- so getting the $31 million was huge for him.
Wilson's injury guarantee totals $61 million -- with $31 million coming from the signing bonus in addition his full 2016 and 2017 salaries guaranteed for injury ($25 million total) as well as $4.9 million of his 2018 salary guaranteed for injury now. The future years can become guaranteed for skill and cap at later dates as well, but are not as of now (at the time of signing).
