He beat Aaron Rodgers on the football field in January. But Russell Wilson hasn’t beaten Rodgers in the contract department, yet.
Despite a widespread belief that Wilson intended to become the highest-paid player in the game, with a contract worth more than the $22 million the Packers gave to Aaron Rodgers, the four-year, $87.6 million “extension” (as reported by Peter King of TheMMQB.com) gives Wilson a new-money average of $21.9 million.
It’s still unclear whether Wilson is under contract for four more years beyond 2015, or whether it’s a new four-year deal that replaces the one-year remaining on his rookie contract. Wilson’s tweet mentions “four more years"; if it’s an extension, he’s under contract for five more years.
That’s a potentially critical distinction. If it’s a fresh four-year, $87.6 million deal, Wilson is under contract through 2018. If it’s an extension, Wilson will be under contract through 2019.
Obviously, the sooner he’s eligible for another new deal, the better.
As it stands, he’ll either be in line for a new deal at age 30, or at age 31.