Timing likely behind lack of contract talks for Bobby Wagner, Seahawks

There were always going to be conversations about whether or not the Seahawks would extend All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner this offseason. But with an early April report of Russell Wilson’s imposed contract deadline – and, later, news of the record-breaking deal itself – speculation about all other contracts took a backseat. That was until Wagner’s recent interview with NFL Network, which brought his expiring contract back into focus.

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“I want to retire a Seahawk, but I understand it’s a business,” Wagner told NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz Saturday. “I’m preparing like this is my last year as a Seahawk. If it is, I want to make sure I go out with a bang and make sure I give the city something to remember.”

Wagner is entering the final season of a four-year, $43 million contract extension originally signed in August 2015. Following the trade of Frank Clark, it’s been widely expected that the Seahawks will retain Wagner with a third contract. Potential complicating matters, though, is the fact that Wagner will be representing himself this time around.

“Last time he had an agent, this time he is representing himself,” 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard said during Monday morning’s Brock and Salk show. “Pete (Carroll) did make a point to you and me last time he sat down with us, talking about the Russell Wilson negotiation. What did he say? One of the big positives (of that negotiation) is that there were no hurt feelings. You take an agent out of it, and it’s just Bobby Wagner talking to Matt Thomas and John Schneider. It will be fascinating news to watch unfold.”

That said, both Huard and co-hist Mike Salk expect talks to ramp up now that the Wilson’s contract and the 2019 NFL Draft are out of the way.

“They’ve been busy, obviously,” Salk said. “They had to deal with Russell and his bizarre deadline, then they had the draft, and now rookie minicamp. So, it’s not like they’ve had a tremendous amount of time and opportunity. Wednesday will be the day they can start to bring in players without being charged a compensatory draft pick. We are going to see the Seahawks busy here for a little while, but I would expect that when everybody goes away, Bobby Wagner would be the number one priority on their list.”

“I think is just a timing matter,” Huard added. “That when you represent yourself, as Bobby does — it’s hard enough, I think, to really start the (contract) conversations … (but this) is the window of opportunity over the next six to eight weeks, especially with Bobby in the building, that they’re going to have a chance to have a little bit of face time and get it done.”

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