All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner joining Seahawks rival Los Angeles Rams
Mar 31, 2022, 1:02 PM | Updated: 7:10 pm
RB Darrell Henderson of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by middle linebacker Bobby Wagner of the Seahawks. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The fact that the Seahawks moved on from legendary linebacker Bobby Wagner was already weird enough for Seattle fans. It’s only going to get weirder, though, with Wagner joining an NFC West rival.
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Wagner is signing with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on a reported five-year contract worth $50 million, meaning he’ll play against the Seahawks twice a year going forward.
Wagner’s deal will include incentives that could make it worth as much as $65 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Rams announced the move Thursday afternoon.
Welcome home, @Bwagz!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zC1THHLcIq
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 31, 2022
The Rams had been seen in recent weeks as a likely landing spot for Wagner, who now joins a loaded defense in Los Angeles that also features stars Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd.
The Seahawks released Wagner earlier this month, with the news first coming out on the same day that reports of quarterback Russell Wilson’s trade to Denver surfaced, effectively signaling the end of an era in Seattle. Wagner tweeted that he first learned of his release from a source other than the Seahawks, something coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider later took responsibility for and expressed regret about.
By releasing the 31-year-old Wagner, the Seahawks saved over $16 million for 2022. He still carries a salary cap hit of $3.75 million for Seattle this year due to a signing bonus on his previous contract, according to Spotrac.
A six-time All-Pro who also has a current streak of eight straight Pro Bowl seasons, Wagner had 170 tackles, five passes defensed, one sack, one interception, three QB hits and three tackles for loss in 2021. He missed the final game of the season with a knee injury.
The Seahawks are expected to turn to Jordyn Brooks and Cody Barton to anchor the linebacker spots in 2022, with Ben Burr-Kirven another in-house option. They also have signed defensive end/linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe in free agency.
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