If Seahawks don't want to pay Wilson, how about Darnold?

If you want a head count on readers out there…

Just write about the future of Russell Wilson.

We published a piece on the Seahawks quarterback right here on Friday, and the emails are still arriving.

All of you Hawk fans apparently have an opinion about Wilson’s April 15 deadline for sorting out a long-term contract.

And your opinions were all over the place.

Some folks simply thought the numbers being thrown around are so obscene that they just don’t care.

They’ll turn on the TV in time for the first regular-season kickoff and not give a hoot who’s earning what.

An email arrived on Sunday morning that summed up the salary situation pretty well.

“What is the difference between $32 million and $36 million in terms of your quality of life?” asked a reader who requested anonymity. “I don’t think most fans care about the money anymore — except when we have to pay for tickets.”

IF WE had to pick one theme from all the feedback, though, it was the obvious one.

If the Seahawks can’t or won’t pay Wilson what he’s asking — or if he and wife Ciara truly want a trade to New York — then who in the hell will play quarterback?

As many of you pointed out (and I agree), it’s impossible to win in the NFL without an elite QB.

And there aren’t many around.

If Wilson leaves Seattle for any reason at all, the Seahawks suddenly regress to the middle of the pack.

Or worse.

A few people suggested a trade to the Jets for Sam Darnold and two first-round draft picks.

Shall we call that the best of some really poor outcomes?

However you cut it, if Wilson doesn’t take the first snap for the Seahawks this year, plugging in Darnold might be the only scenario in which you could dream of sniffing the playoffs.

Darnold was erratic as a rookie for the Jets, but he has a big arm, he improved late in the year and is still just 21 years old.

He’s likely going to be an impact NFL quarterback at some point, which is why he was the third player chosen in last year’s draft.

Every other trade option looks kind of bleak for Seattle.

One fan suggested that the Seahawks send Wilson to the New York Giants for a shedload of draft picks — remember, Seattle has just four picks in the draft beginning April 25 — and then moving some picks on to Arizona for QB Josh Rosen.

I have no clue how highly GM John Schneider rates either Darnold or Rosen, but I’m going to take a wild stab here and suggest he doesn’t believe either one is Russell Wilson.

A FEW readers who were willing to look at the money situation made a pretty solid point.

If Wilson gets top dollar — say, in the Aaron Rodgers category — then it becomes virtually impossible to keep edge rusher Frank Clark, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

All three of those guys are studs, and each will be a free agent after this coming season.

You’re talking about the heart of the Seattle defense.

The long-term price for Clark and Wagner has gone up in just the last few days, too, as Dallas spent $105 million to re-sign rush specialist DeMarcus Lawrence for five years and the 49ers shelled out $54 million on a four-year deal with former Tampa Bay linebacker Kwon Alexander.

In a league where agents use comparable numbers like nunchucks, it’s pretty obvious the future paychecks of Clark and Wagner have just gone up.

Even Reed will be due a lot more money in 2020, since he’s a good DT who will be wrapping up a four-year rookie contract this season — a bargain at roughly $5 million overall.

If Schneider is willing to gamble on Darnold and let Wilson go to the bright lights of New York, there would be money available for Clark, Wagner and Reed.

Not to mention a couple of very high draft picks.

But letting one of the league’s best quarterbacks walk away in his prime is a massive gamble.

Our readers don’t think Schneider will roll the dice like that.

So far, at least.

I’m still listening, though, if you think you can solve this puzzle.

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Email: scameron@cdapress.com