NFL Trade Rumors: Seattle Seahawks Dangle $21 Million Annual Salary to Russell Wilson

Jul 27, 2015 07:45 AM EDT

The Seattle Seahawks has dangled a $21 million annual salary to quarterback Russell Wilson, one of the highest offered to a quarterback in the NFL history. But Wilson has not yet taken a bit into the offer and instead both sides are still negotiating as the deadline to do a contract extension looms, the NFL web site said.

It was reported over the weekend that Wilson, whose rookie contract with the Seahawks, might be asking for a bigger paycheck. While the number seems high, other quarterbacks are getting more.

The Panthers gave Cam Newton $30 million cash up front in his new extension.  However, other quarterbacks are also offered higher numbers than Russell, including Aaron Rodgers ($22.0 million), Ben Roethlisberger ($21.85 million), Cam Newton ($20.76 million), Matt Ryan ($20.75 million), and Joe Flacco ($20.1 million). This salary bump would put Wilson alongside them.

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.

Negotiations are ongoing, Wilson hasn't turned anything down outright, and nothing has been taken off the table. But at this point, it's an issue of cash up front and guarantees, in addition to the debate over a yearly salary.

According to CBS Sports, while Russell wants to stay with the Seahawks, he wanted to be the highest paid quarterbacks, and this is where the negotiations are hitting a snag as both camps are still not on the same page as his value. Russell is expected to receive $1.54 million this 2015, his final rookie year.

For his next contract, he wants more zeroes, it was said.

However, a number of NFL Analysts, general managers and coaches do not agree that Wilson is worth more than that and do not consider him as a top-tier quarterback, said Inquisitr. This also explains why the Seahawks are hesitant to offer Russell more to enable him to realize his goal of becoming the highest paid quarterback in the NFL in the coming season.

Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holgren said Russell should accept the deal offered by the Seahawks because there is tremendous risk if he rejects the offer.

He told CBS Sports,  "He's gonna sign a huge contract, in the $20 million-plus range, I would guess. And to not sign it, and to play this year for [$1.5 million]. They always run the risk of injury. To make another million bucks in a hundred million dollar contract over five years doesn't make any sense to me at all. And I would tell him that. If he asks me, I'll tell him. And that's why I think he's making a mistake."