Seahawks GM indicates team will be careful with Wilson contract negotiations
After leading the Seattle Seahawks to three of the most productive seasons in team history, including consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the past two years, Russell Wilson has long been assumed to be in line for a massive contract extension.
With Wilson now eligible to receive a long-term deal, that time should come sooner than later. But as Seahawks general manager John Schneider explained in an appearance on KIRO 97.3 FM on Wednesday, the team plans to remain cautious in its approach.
"Every negotiation is unique in and of itself and this is no different," Schneider said, according to Terry Blount of ESPN.
"He's our quarterback. We'd love him to be our quarterback. But the thing is we need to keep as many of these guys together as we possibly can. What I can tell you is that this is the ultimate team sport. We have a track record of rewarding our players that we recognize as core players."
There's virtually no chance the Seahawks would nickel and dime their star quarterback to the point that the two sides are unable to agree to terms on a long-term deal.
At the same time, given the team's string of dominance and incredible top-to-bottom talent - including several other standout players who will soon require new contracts of their own - hesitating to give up too much money against the cap is understandable.
Wilson could conceivably take a deal somewhat below market value to help keep the roster intact - or even a deal with increased guarantees in exchange for a lesser total cost - but the Seahawks certainly can't be expecting their quarterback to make such a concession.
Either way, Wilson's historic run of success to start his career would justify any demands that he be rewarded with a contract that makes him the league's highest-paid quarterback.
The Seahawks may desire to soften the salary-cap ramifications of the expected mega-deal, but quarterbacks of Wilson's caliber become available so rarely that the team likely has little to no leverage in an increasingly fascinating negotiation process.