The Seattle Seahawks are hoping to get a contract extension done with Russell Wilson this offseason, but so far the talks are not close and this comes as Bobby Wagner is seeking a new deal, while Bruce Irvin could be the subject of trade rumors after he said he may play for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 when he can leave a as a free agent from Pete Carroll and the Hawks.
The Seahawks are coming into the offseason after losing in the Super Bowl and they feel that they are ready to compete again. The team added Jimmy Graham in a major trade this offseason and GM John Schneider thinks the team has impact players from the draft in Frank Clark and Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks have added depth in areas of need and now contract situations could be the underlying story when the team starts getting into offseason workouts.
The contract situation with Wilson is the top priority for the Seahawks, as he is coming into the final year of his deal and should be commanding a big salary. According to the Seattle Times, the two sides are not close on contract talks and there is a chance that the team does not agree to an extension with Wilson. Over the last three years the Seahawks have been lucky with Wilson, as he has been a small cap number after signing as a third round pick in the draft.
After three years of the playoffs, two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, Wilson is in line to get paid big and the Seahawks may have to get creative. According to Bleacher Report, Jason Cole writes that it's "highly unlikely" that the Seahawks and Wilson agree to a contract extension, as Wilson is looking for more money and years than Seattle is willing to go for now. Wilson reportedly wants $20 million over five years, but the Seahawks have offered a deal less than that and the sides are "10s of millions" apart, according to 710 ESPN in Seattle.
Wilson has been very successful but this contract negotiation could extend into the season. The Seahawks have multiple players looking for new deals, including Michael Bennett and Bobby Wagner. Wagner wants an extension, as the Seattle Times reports that he is hoping to get something done this year. Bennett reportedly is unhappy with his deal and wants more money, but not a trade, while Bruce Irvin's situation looks like it could end badly.
According to Pro Football Talk, Irvin was upset with the team after his fifth year contract option was not picked up and now he could be poised to leave Seattle. There were reports that the Atlanta Falcons were interested in a trade for Irvin, but the Seattle Times reports that a deal is unlikely. Irvin said to the media last week that he would be playing for the Falcons in 2016, which would reunite him with former coordinator Dan Quinn. Pete Carroll dismissed the quotes as just talk and he said he expected Irvin back. The team is hoping that both Lockett and Clark can step up and contribute like starters this season.
