With the Seahawks in danger of missing the playoffs, Week 18 could represent the team’s final game this season. As a result, questions have been asked with respect to linebacker Bobby Wagner‘s future.
The 33-year-old departed Seattle last year to join his hometown Rams. He asked for and was granted his release following a disappointing campaign from the team, however, making him a free agent once again. Wagner rejoined the Seahawks in March, inking a one-year deal with a base value of $5.5M. By being named a Pro Bowler this year, he has added $750K to his earnings.
The six-time All-Pro has delivered another productive campaign in his second stint in Seattle. Wagner sits second in the league in tackles (168), and he has a strong chance of setting a new career high in that department in Week 18. He has added 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery while playing 1,100 snaps for the third time in his career.
When speaking publicly on his future, Wagner said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson) that he is “one hundred percent” planning on playing next season. That comes as little surprise given his continued high level of play this year and the market he could command as a free agent on another short-term deal in particular. The 2010s All-Decade member added that he was not considering his future beyond 2023 when signing his latest Seahawks deal, and it remains to be seen if he and the team will be able to reach another agreement this offseason.
However, head coach Pete Carroll made it clear the Seahawks “would love to have” Wagner back for the 2024 campaign. The latter has played 167 of his 184 career games with Seattle and his continued production could help maintain stability at the second level of the team’s defense. Former first-rounder Jordyn Brooks is a pending free agent due to the Seahawks’ decision last spring to decline his fifth-year option, and free agent addition Devin Bush (attached to a one-year deal) is also set to hit the open market in March.
While plenty is therefore uncertain at the LB spot in Seattle in the near future, Wagner could very well be in the team’s offseason plans. It will be interesting to see if a mutual interest exists between the player and team in the spring to continue their storied relationship even further.
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