The Seattle Seahawks will soon make Russell Wilson one of the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL whenever the two sides come to terms on a contract extension. From the outside looking in, this is a no brainer. Wilson has led the team to two straight Super Bowl appearances with one victory. Last year, he set career highs in passing yards (3,475), rushing yards (849), YPC (7.2) and rushing touchdowns (6). He also set a career low in interceptions (7). However, ESPN NFL Insider KC Joyner does not believe that Wilson is an elite quarterback.
Joyner lays out a small handful main reasons for this belief. The first is Wilson's so-so QBR marks of the last two seasons. In 2014, Wilson ranked 13th in this category (62.4) and 13th again the year prior (58.9). Those marks are comparable to QBs like Nick Foles, Ryan Tannehill and Mark Sanchez. It's not a stretch to say that none of those passers are elite.
What's worse is that number drops when you focus solely on passing plays. Wilson's QBR of 47.5 on such plays placed him 23rd last year. It's fair to point out, though, that this number could very well improve this season with a better collection of pass-catchers in Seattle.
Another issue Joyner had with Wilson are his struggles in the red zone. He ranked 23rd in red-zone QBR (44.6) last year and 25th on red-zone pass plays (30.9). Again though, Jimmy Graham should help in this area as big mismatch target.
Perhaps the most legitimate of Joyner's gripes with Wilson is his propensity for taking sacks. The former third-rounder has posted a 7.8 percent sack rate over the last three seasons, ranking 27th in the NFL. His sack rate is equally as high both within the pocket (8.4 percent) and outside of it (9.0 percent). Granted, the Seahawks haven't had the most dominant offensive line in recent years and Wilson's scrambling makes him more susceptible to sacks. But it is concerning to see how often opposing teams get their hands on him. A decline in the run game would stunt this offense to dangerously low levels if that sack rate stays consistent.
Wilson may have some holes to his game overall, but it can't be disputed that he is still one of the best young quarterbacks in the game whose stock is only rising. He may not perform like an elite QB in the first few seasons of his upcoming new deal. But that doesn't mean he won't eventually get to that level.
