National Football League

Report: Russell Wilson buying insurance policy for 2015 season

Published Jun. 16, 2015 4:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

The problem with late-round picks wasting little of their NFL career proving doubters wrong is those players must wait four or five years to be properly rewarded for their efforts.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is among that group, since the Super Bowl champion was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He’s attempting to sign a new contract with Seattle, but it appears those discussions haven’t progressed fast enough.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Wilson is buying an insurance policy for the 2015 season, just in case he sustains a career-ending injury.

This is a common practice for professional athletes. Every year, updates are released that a draft prospect buys “loss of value” insurance. This year, for example, Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu -- a potential first-round pick before he tore his ACL -- cashed in on his $3 million policy after being selected in the seventh round.

If Ekpre-Olomu, whose policy protected him as the No. 12 pick that is worth approximately $12 million, paid out 25 percent of his perceived value, Wilson’s payout would be hefty, to say the least.

Wilson is likely looking for a contract worth at least $100 million, since a pair of fellow young quarterbacks in Cam Newton and Ryan Tannehill both recently signed extensions in the nine-figure area.

According to Spotrac, Wilson ranks 44th in quarterback salary for the 2015 season, well behind Chase Daniel (23), as well as Bruce Gradkowski (41), Kellen Clemens (42) and other players you forgot were still in the league.

More from Sportsnaut: