Russell Wilson Chess Match with Seahawks Might Mean No New Deal in 2015

This was supposed to be the summer Russell Wilson got paid. It’s been the story since the Super Bowl ended – Wilson was prepared to become the richest QB in the NFL. The 3rd round pick had taken the Seahawks to the playoffs three straight years, including back-to-back Super Bowls.

Yeah, people will say it was the defense that carried the team, or it was Marshawn Lynch … but undeniably, Russell Wilson saved the Seahawks. He put them in position to beat the Falcons in the playoffs as a rookie, but the defense gave up a field goal in the final seconds.

The 2013 defense was oft-compared to the 1985 Bears in Wilson’s second season, and without question was the key to the team’s success … but Wilson also averaged a career-high 8.2 yards per attempt and had a career-high passer rating of 101.2.

The defense struggled for the first half of 2014 before hunkering down over the final six weeks to get the team into the playoffs. It was in the playoffs that Wilson really showed his value: With the team having shipped cancerous Percy Harvin to the Jets, Wilson was throwing to virtual unknowns, but was nearly perfect against a good Panthers defense, overcame a horrible start to beat the Packers in the 4th quarter in overtime, and then put the Seahawks in position to win the Super Bowl in the final seconds before Pete Carroll got cute.

Understandably, Wilson wants to get paid like he’s the best QB in the NFL (he isn’t, not as long as Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck are breathing), partially because he’s done so much for the team over the last three years while making peanuts. But his value to the team is off-the-charts: The backups are BJ Daniels and RJ Archer, Seattle still doesn’t have anything close to an elite WR (though the addition of Jimmy Graham will obviously help) and Marshawn Lynch says he’ll play another year or two.

The Seahawks have to pay Russell Wilson … right?

Russell Wilson says he's prepared to play season without a new deal but hopes to stay in Seattle a long time.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) June 2, 2015

Wilson will continue to say and do all the right things … while secretly continuing to harbor his dream of playing professional baseball. What’s going to help Wilson next year is the fact that he could definitely trigger a bidding war in free agency among teams desperate for a QB. That’s if the Seahawks don’t franchise tag him.

How bad would the New York Jets love to get Russell Wilson? Given his offseason hanging out with Ciara … I think he’d love the spotlight in NYC.

How bad would the Washington Redskins love to replaceRGIII with Russell Wilson? Wilson has the look of a man who could have a future in politics.

At what point can Seattle fans officially worry that they might lose their QB?