Mike Holmgren has made it clear Matt Hasselbeck is his starting quarterback even though he signed Trent Dilfer.

	Hasselbeck

The Seahawks clarified any question who is No. 1 on Wednesday by signing Hasselbeck to a five-year contract extension worth up to $24 million. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $500,000 first-year base salary.

"He's excited the team has made a financial statement that he's their quarterback of the future," said Hasselbeck's agent, David Dunn.

Like Jeff Garcia, who signed a six-year, $36 million contract, Hasselbeck's deal is complicated. It includes options at the team's discretion in several years of the deal. On the low side, it could be a three-year deal for $7 million. On the high side, it could be a five-year extension for $24 million.

The best way to figure it is that he should make at least $21 million over the next five years if he remains a Seahawk. Hasselbeck came to the team during the offseason in a trade for a swap of first-round choices from the Packers. The Seahawks also threw in a third-rounder to complete the deal.

Seahawks coach and general manager Mike Holmgren is feeling relief now that Hasselbeck has signed. He begins the season with all contracts out of the way. That hasn't been the case in past years.

"In Matt's case, we knew we wanted to do this," Holmgren said. "His plate is full learning things and becoming a leader of this football team. We did not need the contract thing on his mind."

Hasselbeck, 25, has come a long way since being drafted in the sixth round by the Packers in 1998. He spent that season on the practice squad.

He kept a journal during his rookie season, and predicted his good fortunes.

"Stuff like this shouldn't happen to a sixth-round pick, an undrafted free agent or a practice squad player," he said. "Sometimes you've gotta overcome odds I guess."

He said he didn't consider holding out, because it was much more important to be in training camp and to show a commitment to his new team.

Hasselbeck struggled early in the team's training camp in Cheney, Wash., but has performed well in two preseason losses. The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder has completed 22 of 36 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown. He has not thrown an interception and has been sacked three times. He has a quarterback rating of 90.4, second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 30 attempts.

"One thing that I have been trying to do is not try to get too creative and make too much happen," said Hasselbeck, who has never started a regular-season NFL game. "Stick to the basics."

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.