Report: Seahawks, Russell Wilson to end contract talks at start of training camp
If the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson are hoping to reach a long-term deal at some point this year, it appears the two sides will only be giving themselves another two weeks to do so.
Wilson has no plans to hold out despite an apparent lack of progress toward a new contract, but negotiations will end when training camp gets underway at the end of July, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Though creating a deadline could conceivably spark some last-minute movement – much like other teams demonstrated with the several deals reached on the last day of negotiations for franchise-tagged players this week – all indications are that Wilson and the Seahawks remain quite far apart in their discussions to this point.
Rapoport adds that Wilson wants to be paid as if he was a free agent, and that his sights are set on a deal that will make him the NFL's highest-paid player. Working out a fully guaranteed deal is another option in Wilson's mind, which would be an unprecedented move for a contract of this magnitude.
Wilson and the Seahawks can be expected to continue negotiations for an extension leading up to the apparent deadline now in place, but it remains to be seen whether they are successful in closing the gap.
The Seahawks, ideally, would like to avoid a deal that leaves them less capable of maintaining arguably the league's most talented roster, while Wilson understandably wants to be rewarded for a highly successful three-year start to his career in which he's led the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances.
Should the two sides reach the start of camp without a new contract in place, and indeed decide to break off talks for the upcoming campaign, the Seahawks using the franchise tag next offseason becomes a realistic possibility in keeping their star quarterback off the free-agent market.
Wilson isn't likely to be playing for another team any time soon regardless, but the sensible solution for both he and the Seahawks will continue to be securing his future with the team by way of a lucrative long-term contract.