Matthew Stafford still ranks No. 1 among quarterbacks in highest-percentage of guaranteed money

The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson finally struck a deal on Friday that includes a massive $60 million in guaranteed money.

This is a staggering amount of guaranteed cash—a number that equates to 68.5 percent of Wilson’s total $87.6 million salary over the next four years.

While this percentage ranks up there, it is less than the guaranteed percentage that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford agreed to in 2013. Stafford secured $41.5 million guaranteed, which equates to 78.3 percent of his total contract value of $53 million.

Keep in mind, we are discussing quarterbacks who are on veteran contracts. Those on their rookie deals are playing under fully-guaranteed terms.

Other notable quarterbacks who signed deals where they received at least 50 percent of their contract money guaranteed are Alex Smith (66.18 percent), Ryan Tannehill (58.44 percent), Cam Newton (57.8 percent), Colin Kaepernick (53.51 percent) and Tony Romo (50.93 percent).

At the other end of the spectrum, there are quarterbacks who are in deals where they received less than 40 percent of their salaries guaranteed. These quarterbacks include Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton and Tom Brady.

With the $60-plus million in guaranteed cash that Wilson, Newton and Kaepernick received in their recent deals, the market has definitely been set for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Though, one has to wonder if the young quarterback will use Stafford’s guarantees as a bargaining chip as well.

Photo: USA Today Sports