Why Russell Wilson's contract situation is so complicated for the Seahawks

If you are a distant relative of Russell Wilson, now would be the time to build a relationship with the Seattle Seahawks quarterback.

It's not a question of if Wilson is going to sign a massive contract extension and become a very rich man, but when.

Seattle finds itself in a tough spot. The Seahawks can't not pay the guy that quarterbacked them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, but they have to be careful about how they go about it.

Wilson's deal will likely shape the team's future for the next decade, and if they plan to continue contending for Super Bowls, the Seahawks can't afford a misstep.

The When

If the Seahawks don't want to risk damaging their relationship with Wilson, they should probably settle this matter soon. The hesitancy to extend their franchise quarterback can't make the 26-year-old very happy, even if he isn't displaying it publicly.

We all watched the passive-aggressive battle between the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson over the past few months, and the Seahawks would surely like to avoid a similar situation. Granted that all stemmed from Peterson's own careless judgement on an entirely different matter, but no team wants a fractured relationship with a star player.

Getting Wilson locked up before Andrew Luck would also be wise. The Indianapolis Colts signal-caller is due for a contract extension as well, and when he signs it, he'll likely become the highest-paid player in the league. Indy has already indicated it won't be doing Luck's deal until after 2015, so what are the Seahawks waiting for?

Letting Wilson play this season without a new deal risks Luck inking his extension first. While Luck is widely considered the best young quarterback in the game, he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring. The Seahawks know Wilson is going to play that card during negotiations, they just don't want him to play it after Luck cashes in.

If that's the case, Wilson could demand as much, if not more, than Luck. Even if he doesn't deserve it, the Seahawks are better off not going down that road.

There's also the addition of Jimmy Graham to consider. Wilson's numbers through the air have been paltry at best, but things could change with Graham in the fold. The explosive tight end may help Wilson achieve a career year passing the football, giving him another reason to demand more money at season's end.

The Money

What exactly Wilson is worth may be the most challenging thing for the Seahawks to determine. We all know that quarterbacks with a Super Bowl title can essentially name their price. Just ask Joe Flacco, who is probably still dancing to The O'Jays somewhere right now after getting a six-year, $120-million deal from the Baltimore Ravens two seasons ago.

Opinions on Wilson's play vary greatly. While some feel he has been one of the catalysts for Seattle's success, others believe many pivots would produce similar results in his place.

Despite popular belief, it's possible to be a good quarterback on a team with an excellent defense, and Wilson is just that. He's probably never going to throw for 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns, but his ability to extend drives with his legs is unparalleled. Wilson ran for a whopping 849 yards and six scores in 2014, while leading the league with an average of 7.2 yards per carry.

If Wilson's naysayers are going to point to the fact that he has a superb defense and Marshawn Lynch to lean on, they would be remiss not to mention the obvious lack of quality passing targets he's had. Wilson got a team to within one play of its second straight championship by throwing to the likes of Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette, Luke Wilson, and Cooper Helfet. Don't think for a second that was an easy task.

That said, the benefit of having Lynch and arguably one of the best defenses in history can't be ignored. Lynch seems to be getting better with age and totaled more than 1,300 yards on the ground last year, with a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the defense has conceded an average of 15.1 points per game over the past two seasons, fewest in the NFL. It's a lot easier to play quarterback when you know 17 points is probably enough to get you a win most Sundays.

It's unquestionably a tough call for the Seahawks. They have to give Wilson a substantial amount of money, even though the defense is what's carrying this team. The New York Jets have put together a phenomenal defensive unit, but does anybody think they can challenge for a Super Bowl with Geno Smith behind center? If you put Wilson on the Jets, though, they all of a sudden enter the conversation. That should tell you all you need to know about Wilson's value.

There are currently 50 quarterbacks in the NFL making more guaranteed money than Wilson. That's criminal. Does he deserve $25 million a season, a fully guaranteed deal, and to be the league's highest-paid player? Probably not. But the Seahawks need to relent and pay Wilson like one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.

The Impact

Ever since general manager John Schneider took over in 2010, the Seahawks have always built around the defensive side of the ball. They hired the defensive-minded Pete Carroll and built a juggernaut secondary that they have given a truckload of money to.

In fact, Seattle's top four positions in regards to payroll are cornerback, defensive end, safety, and defensive tackle, as the team has invested 43.4 percent of its current salary on defense, per Spotrac. The Miami Dolphins are the only other team to have their top four positions by payroll on defense.

Wilson's extension could hinder them from continuing that philosophy. The talks surrounding his contract have overshadowed the fact that linebacker Bobby Wagner also needs to be extended.

Wagner has developed into one of the NFL's best inside linebackers and finished fifth overall in Pro Football Focus's grades for 2014. Defensive end Michael Bennett, who finished second among 4-3 pass-rushers according to PFF, has also stated that he's not happy with his current deal.

PFF is not gospel by any means, however, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Wagner and Bennett were integral to those Super Bowl runs. If the Seahawks overpay Wilson, it could mean losing both players down the line.

That's often the cost of doing business in the NFL, but the challenge for Seattle is determining what value each player has. Can Wilson put more of the team on his back if it loses players like Wagner and Bennett? That's hard to answer right now.

The Seahawks are stuck between a rock and a briefcase full of money with Wilson. They have to extend him, but most certainly will cost them in more ways than one.

Seattle may ultimately be forced to choose between preserving an all-time great defense and securing a franchise quarterback. Don't feel bad for the Seahawks, though. It's a problem every organization would love to have.