The Distance Between Russell Wilson and a $50 Million Paycheck Increases Due to Recent NFL Rule Change

By a wide measure, quarterbacks are the NFL’s best-paid players. Their astounding contracts demonstrate how crucial they are to the success of their teams. Recently, Russell Wilson joined the group of quarterbacks who have committed to hefty contracts through 2022, elevating him to the position as one of the highest-paid players in the game.

But it wasn’t quite as good as it could have been. There has been no alteration to his new seven-year, $296 million deal with the Broncos.

Russell Wilson
Jul 27, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during training camp at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

However, Wilson is not quite as close to $50 million per year as assumed in terms of where he stands on the much-ballyhooed new-money average rankings.

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Russell Wilson still away from a $50m/season contract due 2020 NFL CBA

Wilson’s new contract, according to a league source, did not account for the value of the 17th game checks to which he was due for the two years left on his deal. His $19 million base salary for 2022 was actually $20,117,647 because he would have received one more $1,117,647 game check under his previous contract. He would have received $23,294,117 in 2023 rather than $22 million.

What is the 2020 NFL-NFLPA CBA?

The NFL decided to increase the regular season from 16 to 17 games on March 31 after 42 years of maintaining the same schedule.

-Article 31 Section (b) (i): salary earned or paid over 16 games shall be modified to be earned or paid over 17 games; or

-Article 31 Section (b) (ii): salary earned or paid over 17 weeks shall be modified to be earned or paid over 18 weeks; or

-Article 31 Section (b) (iii): salary earned or paid over 34 weeks shall be modified to be earned or paid over 36 weeks.

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Players with pre-existing contracts earn an additional weekly game check equal to 1/17th of their former compensation under the 2020 CBA, which increased the regular season from 16 to 17 games. This is because, in a 16-game season, they got 17 checks. The same happened in the Russell Wilson situation.

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