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At the top of the Dallas Cowboys to-do list is work out an extension for quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys franchise QB has been woefully underpaid through his first three years in the league and certainly deserves a healthy raise. The standard for highest paid quarterback was Aaron Rodgers, but he has some new competition in Russell Wilson who completed a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks over night. Based on what kind of accounting you use, his deal surpassed the Rodgers deal.
With the new money in the contract Wilson announced early this morning and the money that was left on the final year of his old deal, Wilson is reportedly set to total $157 million over the next five years. That’s an average of $31.4 million a year.
When Rodgers signed a new contract in August, it added four more years to the two he still had on his old deal, bringing his take to a total of $174.8 million over six years. That’s an average of $29.1 million a year.
If you’re just looking at the new money in the deal, it lines up like this.
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks reached agreement on a 4-year, $140 million in new money extension that includes a $65 million signing bonus, per source. https://t.co/SgsxgNIqli
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 16, 2019
In addition to topping Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ contract as the richest ever with a new-money annual average of $35 million per season, Wilson’s signing bonus also sets a new record. Rodgers was first in both categories at $33.5 million and $57.5 million, respectively, on the extension he signed last summer.
The guaranteed money is extraordinary.
Full details for the #Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson: 4 new years, $140M. $65M to sign. Total guarantee: $107M. A no-trade clause. ... Now, Wilson is under contract for 5 years and $157M. And staying in Seattle.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 16, 2019
Recently, we posted a prediction from Bill Barnwell for Prescott.
What his new deal could look like: Six years, $168 million with $60 million guaranteed at signing
We now have a new highest-paid player in the league. Should Prescott’s contract live in this neighborhood? Well, there is this comparison of Prescott’s and Wilson’s first three years in the NFL.
First 3 years in the NFL:
— Matt McClearin (@McMatt1033) January 3, 2019
Dak: 11820 total yards, 85TDs, 39TOs, 96.0 RTG, sacked 119 times
Russ: 11827 total yards, 83 TDs, 40TOs, 98.7 RTG, sacked 113 times
Of course, Wilson did pocket a Super Bowl win in his second year and lead his team back the following year, only to lose on an unbelievable play call on the goal line. In the playoffs this past year, Prescott led the Cowboys to a victory over Wilson’s Seahawks.
We’ll wait and see what Prescott gets, but it’s going to be substantial.