'There's No 'Might'!' Bobby Wagner Won't Retire; Will Pro Bowler Sign With Seahawks?
RENTON, Wash. - When Bobby Wagner opted to return to the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in March, the future Hall of Fame linebacker wasn't thinking too far ahead, only focusing on playing at his best in the present coming back to his original team.
Closing in on the end of his 12th NFL season, however, the 33-year old Wagner isn't contemplating whether or not he will play again in 2024. Speaking with reporters prior to Wednesday's practice - and just hours before being announced as a Pro Bowl selection for a team-record ninth time - he confirmed that decision already has been made and he intends to suit up in 2024.
“There’s no 'might.' I’m here," Wagner said. "I never thought anything else outside of that."
But for next year, does "here'' mean Seattle?
© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
After earning Second-Team All-Pro honors in his lone season with the Rams last year, Wagner indicated that he didn't necessarily have anything to prove in his return to the Seahawks. But even if he wasn't motivated to do so, his continued excellence now a dozen seasons into his illustrious career has been a bright spot for a defense that unfortunately has struggled for most of the 2023 campaign.
Starting 15 out of 16 games so far, Wagner remarkably has played 1,100 snaps for Seattle, equaling 98 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Once again ranking among league leaders with 168 combined tackles, he surpassed 100 tackles in November for the 12th straight season, joining Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks and London Fletcher as the only players since tackles become a recorded stat to post 12 or more consecutive seasons hitting triple digits.
While Wagner's tackle totals have been inflated due to the Seahawks having the second-most defensive plays in the NFL this season, he has remained one of the premier run stopping linebackers in the sport. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranks second among linebackers with 42 run "stops," signifying failed plays for the offense, while also ranking eighth in average depth per tackle, which signifies that he has been one of the best in the league at making tackles near the line of scrimmage.
On top of his elite run defense metrics, Wagner has picked up where he left off in Los Angeles last year as a pass rusher, once again ranking among the most efficient blitzing off-ball linebackers in the league. Sent on the blitz 77 times, he has pressured the quarterback 16 times for a 20 percent pressure rate and tallied 3.5 sacks, adding some much-needed bite to an inconsistent Seattle pass rush.
Feeling good after 184 games and nearly 12,000 snaps in 12 NFL seasons, Wagner has no doubts he'll be able to maintain his quality of play for at least one more season and hopes it will be with the Seahawks.
“I feel like I have a great team that helps me stay in shape and stay ready," Wagner commented. "I got great examples of guys that played a long time that are not selfish with information on how to last and I just try to do my best to do that, and I feel fine.”
Though coach Pete Carroll has acknowledged a few times previously that he didn't know what to expect from Wagner upon his return to the franchise, he's once again been amazed by his productivity, toughness, and durability well into his 30s, crediting the work he puts in during the offseason for being able to stay on top of his game and on the field.
“He’s just such an interesting guy to keep track of. He’s had a fantastic season coming back to us in his leadership," Carroll said on Wednesday. "The example that he sets for other guys, he doesn’t have to say much, he just does everything well and right. The fact that he’s had a productive year and he’s making his plays and ton of tackles again and the durability again which is just so remarkable throughout his career, is just a statement of his overall conditioning and development and maintenance of all that it takes to do that. It’s incredible that he’s played this much, and 168 tackles is amazing. He’s done everything that we could’ve hoped for.”
Looking towards 2024, Wagner wants to stay with the Seahawks and Carroll seemed giddy about the possibility of No. 54 returning for a 13th season, saying the team would "love to have him" and he expects him to be there. But while there obviously is mutual interest in bringing him back, it may not be a given going into what could be a critical offseason for the franchise.
Set to turn 34 years old in July, Wagner is far from alone as a noteworthy unrestricted free agent for Seattle, leaving no shortage of decisions for the front office to make. Fellow linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush will also be free agents, while trade deadline acquisition Leonard Williams is scheduled to hit the market as well.
Further complicating matters, per OverTheCap.com, the Seahawks currently have an estimated -$9 million in effective cap space. Moves can be made to quickly address that issue, but general manager John Schneider won't be able to bring back everybody and due to his age, Wagner may not be a top priority to re-sign compared to Williams or Brooks, who is significantly younger but would undoubtedly cost more to bring back on a long-term deal.
As great as Wagner has been defending the run and blitzing quarterbacks, at this stage of his career, questions about his limitations in coverage can't be ignored either. Lacking the sideline to sideline burst he once had, opposing quarterbacks have completed 82 percent of their targets throwing his direction for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and a 115.3 passer rating, which is the fourth-worst out of 49 qualified linebackers via PFF charting.
With that said, Wagner actually has allowed a lower completion rate and well over 100 yards fewer in coverage than Brooks has this season. He also has broken up three passes and his value as a blitzer offsets some of his deficiencies in passing defense if utilized properly scheme-wise. Since he still can stuff the run and do damage as a rusher, other teams may value him in free agency on a one-year deal.
Ultimately, after accepting a one-year deal worth up to $7 million with incentives last spring, Wagner will likely need to take another similar deal to stay with the Seahawks. But he has previously stated his understanding he's at the point in his career where he will play things by year and won't want to play elsewhere. If the team wants him back as Carroll suggested, considering he's still playing at a high level overall and offers invaluable leadership, there's a good chance both sides sign on for one more dance.
