Does a fully guaranteed contract make sense for Wilson, Seahawks?

The Seahawks have been in the news in recent weeks, trading for star tight end Jimmy Graham and signing Marshawn Lynch to a new deal. They’ve also been unexpectedly quiet regarding their franchise quarterback, though.

Russell Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the expectation is that general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll are going to get him to sign a long-term deal before it becomes an issue. But why has there been so little to report about negotiations?

According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, who joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Brock and Salk” on Thursday, it could be because the Seahawks are still figuring out how they want to shape the contract. And it’s not just about dollars and cents, either, but how much they may guarantee to Wilson.

“When (Schneider) says that it may require creativity and outside the box thinking, and when Russell Wilson is represented by a baseball agent, the obvious conclusion – and this has gained some steam among those who pay close attention to the NFL – is that Russell Wilson could get a contract that is fully guaranteed,” Florio said, “well beyond two or three years – maybe fully guaranteed for the entire term of the contract.”

So what would be the benefits of guaranteeing him the full extent of his contract, something that is pretty much unprecedented for a long-term deal in the NFL?

“You end up getting him at a lower rate because you are guaranteeing he is going to make, let’s say $15 million a year for the next seven years instead of $20 million a year,” Florio said.

He went on to say that it would make practical sense for Seattle considering franchise quarterbacks are rarely cut from big contracts, even with the considerable injury risk they pose.

Going the fully guaranteed route would also have its advantages for Wilson beyond the extended financial security.

“It’s easy for Russell Wilson to justify because on one hand you say he’s taking a hometown discount, but then wait a minute, he’s getting a fully guaranteed contract,” he said. “Seven (years) times fifteen is $105 million fully guaranteed. I think that’s what we need to keep an eye on once the Seahawks decide they’re gonna move on this.”