The NFL contract system has become a hot topic of discussion in recent years. Each offseason teams and players engage in tense negotiations, intending to secure the best deal possible. However, despite the many options available to franchises, the issue of pay disparity continues to plague the league.

As of today, several prominent NFL players are set to receive payments from their respective teams. The payments meant to be handed out reflect just a small chunk of their contracts. Nevertheless, it’s just a stepping stone to their shared relationship with their franchises. One such player is Russell Wilson, the Super Bowl champion quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.

Russell Wilson $245 Million deal 

Wilson recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to address an issue that had been hampering his performance on the field. Since the surgery, Wilson has been focused on proving his worth to the NFL world, determined to return to his former self.

Read More: “What Matters Is Our Plan”: $245 Million Russell Wilson Shots Epic Quote to Prove His Real Worth

According to reports from ESPN’s NFL Insider, Wilson is due to receive a $12 million payment from the Seahawks as of today. This is only a small part of his five-year contract extension worth $245 million with the Broncos. The deal offers Wilson a whopping $165 million in guarantees, with a signing bonus of $124 million.

Russell Wilson’s deal contains two player options for the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have the choice of picking up one of these options for the 2023 season. If the Broncos do make a $20 million payment exercising an option for his 2027 contract year, then Wilson’s 2023 base salary would get reduced to a mere $8 million. A similar situation awaits him for the 2024 season as well as a $22 million payment for Wilson’s 2028 contract year worth $50 million will drop his fully guaranteed $39 million 2024 base salary to a fully guaranteed $17 million.

The complexities of NFL contract constructions

Another player set to receive a substantial payment today is Matthew Stafford, the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford signed a contract extension with the Rams last offseason, including a signing bonus of $60 million. However, $30 million of the bonus was deferred, and the Rams must pay that amount by the end of the day.

Other notable players set to receive payments from their teams today include Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. 

NFL contract constructions are complex and often require extensive negotiations between the teams and the players. Franchises have several options available to them that can significantly affect a player’s salary and the team’s finances. The future of NFL contracts remains a topic of interest, and fans eagerly await what the future holds.

Watch This Story: Tom Brady posts in solidarity with historically suppressed community amidst massive pop culture drama