Seahawks Football 101: What if Seattle moves on without Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright?
Feb 3, 2021, 3:23 PM
For the last nine seasons, there have been just two constants in the Seahawks’ defense: Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.
Seahawks Rookie Report Card: Grading Jordyn Brooks and 2020 class
Wagner joined Wright at Seattle’s linebacker position in 2012, just a year after Wright arrived in town, and there hasn’t been too much thought given to what happens after both players are gone. There’s much more of a likelihood that could change this offseason than ever before, however.
Not only is Wright a free agent coming off arguably his best season as a pro – yes, that really happened in year 10 in the NFL for the Mississippi State product – but perennial All-Pro Wagner is going to be discussed a lot as a potential trade chip for Seattle due to his hefty contract and the league’s shrinking salary cap.
With that all in mind, if Seattle had to move on without either of their stalwart linebackers, would they be OK at the position? That’s the focus in this week’s Football 101 video from Dave Wyman, host of 710 ESPN Seattle’s Wyman and Bob.
We know about the stellar rookie season that 2020 first-round pick Jordyn Brooks had for Seattle, so Wyman, a former Seahawks linebacker and current Seahawks Radio Network color commentator, takes a close look at some plays by another young Hawks linebacker, Cody Barton.
Watch Wyman’s full breakdown in the video at the top of this post, and catch up on more episodes of Football 101 by clicking any of the links below.
More Seahawks Football 101
• Week 1: Adams, Dunbar solve a play that has been Seattle’s problem
• Week 2: How Bobby Wagner helped seal a win on the final play vs. the Patriots
• Week 3: Team effort results in a safety against the Cowboys
• Week 4: How K.J. Wright and the defense solved Seattle’s big-play issues
• Week 5: How the defense came up clutch against the Vikings
• Week 7: Rookie LB Jordyn Brooks’ promising plays in Arizona
• Week 8: Why Bobby Wagner is the NFL’s best blitzing LB
• Week 9: What Carlos Dunlap adds that the defense needs
• Week 11: How K.J. Wright outplayed Kyler Murray
• Week 11 bonus: Proof that the defense’s new success is sustainable
• Week 12: Chris Carson is back, and this is how to use him
• Week 13: The defense’s crucial adjustment to Giants’ run game
• Week 14: The emergence of Ugo Amadi
• Week 15: Jamal Adams does it all for Seattle at safety
• Week 16: Everyone played a part in keeping Rams out of the end zone
• Week 17: Rookie standout Jordyn Brooks flattens George Kittle
• Wild Card round: How much did Jamal Adams’ injury limit his play?
• Conference championship round: How some penalties may hurt the game
