Report: Seahawks to release 8-time All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner
Mar 8, 2022, 6:33 PM
Bobby Wagner reacts after a play during the a Seahawks playoff game against the Rams on Jan. 9, 2021. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Just a few hours after reportedly agreeing to a trade that will send star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Seahawks will reportedly be parting ways with another franchise icon.
Reports: Seahawks trading Russell Wilson to Denver Broncos
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks have informed middle linebacker Bobby Wagner that he is being released. Wagner, 31, joined the Seahawks in 2012 as a second-round pick. Wilson was a third-round pick that year.
Like Wilson, Wagner has been a steady force for the Seahawks since being drafted in 2012. He was a starter from the beginning of his career and in his 10-year career, Wagner is an eight-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro with six first-team nods. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2021.
Wagner holds the franchise record for career tackles with 1,383 and also has 23.5 sacks and 10 interceptions in his career.
In addition to filling out the stat sheet each week for the Seahawks, Wagner has served as a team captain six times in his 10 seasons in Seattle.
With Wilson reportedly traded and Wagner reportedly cut, defensive end Benson Mayowa is the only member of the roster who was on Seattle’s Super Bowl winning team in 2013, though Mayowa has been on other teams between now and then whereas Wagner and Wilson have been with the Seahawks that entire time.
By releasing Wagner, who had one year remaining on his contract, the Seahawks will save over $16 million for the 2022 season. Wagner also is a “street free agent,” meaning he is free to sign with any team once he’s officially released. That’s important to note because most other pending free agents have to wait until next Wednesday to sign with a new team, though they can begin negotiating with new teams starting next Monday.
With Wagner gone, 2020 first-round pick Jordyn Brooks and 2019 draft picks Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven are the in-house options to replace Wagner at middle linebacker. Brooks started at weakside outside linebacker in 2021 and set a single-season franchise record for tackles while Barton filled in at middle linebacker late in the year when Wagner was injured.
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