Cam Newton officially became the next quarterback to get his money this offseason. With several big-named passers approaching new contracts, the market is slowly being set. Ryan Tannehill was the first to be taken off the market after the Miami Dolphins gifted him with a six-year, $96 million contract. With the quarterback market quickly getting more expensive, is the pressure on the Seattle Seahawks to respond?
The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday via ESPN that Newton has officially been signed to five-year, $103.8 million contract with $60 million in guaranteed money. That is $22 million more than what Tannehill will be earning. Newton was a former NFL Rookie of the Year and has had a brief taste of the postseason. The Panthers are very confident the quarterback is the player they need to get to the "promise land."
"I'm thankful this opportunity came and it's over with," Newton said, via ESPN.com. "Now that I can focus on playing football and getting the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl, it puts me somewhat in cruise control at the moment."
With Newton and Tannehill signed, all eyes are on Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. According to the Seattle Times, negotiations are ongoing. One moment the team is positive the deal will get done and the next things are back at square one. Wilson remains very confident his contract will be done soon, but does the Newton deal toss those expectations?
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the Newton deall is the ceiling for Wilson. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback will earn more than the Panther's star despite being a later draft pick and having played fewer seasons. He is expected to earn more than the $22 million Aaron Rodgers earns annually. The question remains as to whether not things will actually get done. Agent Mark Rodgers stressed that Wilson is prepared to play the season without an extension, but will not be happy about it.
"No matter where I go I always believe that it's going to work out no matter what the situation is," Wilson said, via ProFootballTalk.com. "And I hope that it's here and I hope that it's here for a long time and hopefully I get to wear the Seahawks blue in No. 3 for a long time. But we'll see what happens."
As of now, contracts for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are not expected to happen this season. The Indianapolis Colts have said Luck's contract will happen next year while Griffin's has gotten his fifth-year option with plenty to prove before he can get an extension. Wilson is next in line to get paid and the ball is in the Seahawks' court to get it done.