What’s next for K.J. Wright? He talks about his – and Seahawks’ – future

Legendary Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright discussed plenty during his 45-minute chat with Mike Salk on Seattle Sports 710 AM this week, including what the future holds potentially holds for the 11-year NFL veteran.

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You can watch the full interview in the video below, or listen with the link and player at the bottom of the story.

What’s next for K.J. Wright?

“How do I word this?” Wright told Salk. “I’m gonna keep working out and stay ready for a phone call. And if a phone call does not come when I want the phone call to come, then I’ll be OK.”

Wright said that he’s “giving it time” but said that he “will not be getting off the couch during the season” to join any team as a player.

So if that call doesn’t come, what will Wright do? He wants to join the Seahawks in a different role.

“I want to be in the building. I want to to help,” he said. “I want to help build the team back to where I know they could be. Whether that’s on the front office side, whether that’s on the consulting side, coaching side, I would love to be in that building to help that team get back to a Super Bowl championship-caliber team.”

What excites Wright about potentially joining the Seahawks in a role other than player?

“Really just building the team, putting putting the right guys in, getting the wrong guys out o really just build something strong,” he said.

“So that’s a whole new ballgame,” Wright said later when Salk said that it sounds like Wright wants to be an NFL general manager. “Just understanding salary cap and how do you base this guy here? How much did he get paid? Or looking at a guy (and figuring out) is this guy a third-round or undrafted talent? There’s so much going into that. I’m intrigued to learn, so it’d be really cool.”

Seahawks Defense

The Seahawks will have a different-looking defense in 2022 than Wright played in from 2011-2020.

Wright shared his thoughts on what we should expect from the defense to start the 2022 season.

“It may look shaky and may look a little funny because you’ve got got a tough schedule, but you’ve got to trust these guys and just let it build,” Wright said. “Let it build. And it may not happen this year, but keep it going and it may come to fruition to where you want to say like, ‘this is what it looks like. I’ve got the personnel, I’ve got the play calling, I’ve got everything I need to really go forward with this organization.”

Wright said that the Seahawks have “some good pieces on defense,” and he’s particularly intrigued by rookie fifth-round cornerback Tariq Woolen.

“He looks really good. He got a pick up practice, so I like what I see,” he said.

Wright is also a fan of cornerback Sydney Jones and linebackers Cody Barton and Jordyn Brooks. Wright played with both of them and said they’ve “got to take the next step.” That’s especially the case for Brooks, Seattle’s first-round pick in 2020 who is the Seahawks’ new defensive playcaller on the field with Bobby Wagner gone.

“Jordyn is very athletic. Jordyn has got to take the next step,” Wright said. “I see Jordyn has the green dot now. You’ve got to listen to the call, deliver it to 10 other guys … in a very loud stadium. You’ve got to be everything for everybody and for yourself, so I’m looking forward to seeing him take the next step with that green dot being the MIKE backer and running the defense.”

Listen to the full interview here or in the player below.

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