Russell Wilson Reportedly Turns Down Seahawks’ $21 Million Per Year Offer

The ongoing stalemate between quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks continued today, with reports from a pair of NFL insiders that the young athlete turned down a deal exceeding $20 million per year.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Wilson declined an offer “worth nearly $21 million per year, with significant guaranteed money.” His claim was supported by the NFL’s Network’s Ian Rapoport, who called the figure “essentially accurate.”

On paper, it appears a deal that would make Wilson the third-highest earner among NFL quarterbacks – nestled neatly between a pair of proven winners in Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, and a couple of franchise faces in Cam Newton and Matt Ryan – should be enough to sway the diminutive signal caller.

However, it appears guaranteed money is the issue, with Business Insider’s Cork Gaines tweeting, “the offer was much closer to Andy Dalton than Cam Newton.” It also appears the Seahawks are hesitant to crack the $22 million ceiling set as precedent for franchise quarterback paychecks when Aaron Rodgers signed his extension with the Green Bay Packers in 2013.

Newton’s guaranteed claim to $60 million is a steep incline from Dalton’s surprisingly cap-friendly deal, amounting to just $17 million guaranteed despite the contract being worth $115 million over six years.

Frankly, Wilson is a younger, more talented, and straight up better player than either of those quarterbacks. If Wilson wants more cash in hand, and the ‘Hawks don’t want to knock Aaron Rodgers into second place, it’s about time those two priorities meet and this deal gets done.