Bobby

Wagner

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the deal includes $6 million in guaranteed money and is worth up to $8.5 million. Dan Quinn served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator in Wagner’s second and third seasons in the NFL way back in 2013 and 2014. The two are now reunited in Washington as Quinn just signed on to be the Commanders’ head coach this offseason. Wagner picked up a league and career-high 183 tackles in 2023 while also finding 3.5 sacks and 11 TFLs. He earned his ninth Pro Bowl nod in the process. Wagner’s knowledge of Quinn’s system should make the move to Washington seamless as he enters his 13th NFL season.

Wagner tallied a career-high 183 tackles in his one-year return to the Seahawks. Wagner spent the first 10 years of his career with the Seahawks before signing with the Rams ahead of the 2022 season. He was granted his release after the Rams finished 5-12 that season and wound up back in Seattle, where he helped lead a defense that allowed the eighth-most points per game. As we’ve come to expect from Wagner, the 12-year pro was named as a Pro Bowler for his efforts in 2023 and also received Second-Team All-Pro recognition. Wagner has been named as a first or second-team All-Pro in each of his last 10 years and will look to add to his hall of fame resumé in what will be his age-34 season. Likely chasing one more ring before he hangs it up; it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wagner join a perennial contender this offseason.

The Seahawks’ linebacking corps has been dealing with injuries as LB Uchenna Nwosu (pectoral) was confirmed to likely be out for the season and LB Jordyn Brooks (calf) was limited in practice. Wagner now misses practice to begin the week while the Seahawks deal with a lengthy Wednesday injury report.

Wagner played the first 10 seasons of his career in Seattle before departing for the Rams prior to the 2022 season. The Rams released the veteran linebacker as a cap casualty after one season, freeing up $5 million in cap space and opening the door for a return to the Seahawks on the one-year deal. Wagner appeared in 151 games for Seattle from 2012 to 2021, 150 of which were starts. Even at the ripe age of 32, Wagner performed to the top-rated linebacker grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022 and should immediately reclaim a starting inside linebacker spot for the Seahawks in his age 33 season.

Middle linebacker remains one of the Seahawks’ biggest needs. While a reunion with Wagner would certainly fix that problem, there’s no guarantee the two sides come to terms on a new deal. After one season with the Rams, Wagner is now back on the market and has reportedly seen interest from both the Chargers and Cowboys. Wagner played at an extremely high level in 2022, totaling 140 tackles, six sacks, and two interceptions while being named Second-team All-Pro. Despite entering his age-33 season, he should have plenty of good football left in him.

Wagner was released by the Rams after just one year, though he wasn’t cut because his quality dipped. The veteran linebacker totaled six sacks and two interceptions in 2022. Pro Football Focus ranked him as their top overall linebacker. Schultz also named the Seahawks as a potential landing spot. Wagner joined the Rams on a five-year, $50 million deal last offseason. Though he won’t get quite as big of a contract this time around, he will still be one of the most coveted free agents in the upcoming class.

Wagner’s release will free up at least $5 million in cap savings, potentially more if it’s a post-June 1 designation. He was not quite the same player he was in Seattle, but it’s hard to say that he’s “declining” when he was a second-team All-Pro and finished with a 90.7 PFF grade while playing nearly all of the team’s snaps. This was framed as a “mutual parting of ways” via Adam Schefter, so it’s possible Wagner already has a new location in mind. He was set to have $10 million fully guaranteed after the fifth day of the 2023 league year, so it’s possible that the Rams wanted to negotiate that down and were declined. Wagner’s release won’t be official until the start of the league year on March 15th so he won’t be eligible to sign until that point.

The deal is worth “up to” $65 million. This is one where you definitely need to wait on the true financials. It is unlikely the Rams have any guaranteed money committed to Wagner beyond 2023, and even for that season it might be minimal. Wagner had reportedly been seeking a one-year, $11 million pact. Although not quite the force he was during his long prime in Seattle, the soon-to-be 32-year-old has aged well, remaining highly effective in 2021. He is still capable of making big plays on all three downs, and will remain an every-snap player in Los Angeles.

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones noted earlier in the day that the Cowboys were out on Wagner. That leaves the Rams and the Ravens jostling for the former All-Pro linebacker. Ultimately, money will likely win out as NBC’s Peter King reported that Wagner was looking for a one-year, $11 million contract in his Football Morning In America column.

The Ravens have “high interest” in Wagner, who left his Rams visit without a deal. The Broncos and QB Russell Wilson have also been recruiting the six-time Pro Bowler to Denver. Wagner would be a natural fit in new DC Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 scheme, where he would replace Josh Bynes on the interior of Baltimore’s defense.