Seahawks, Bobby Wagner Reunion? Pete Carroll, John Schneider Sidestep Possibility
INDIANAPOLIS - With the NFL combine in full swing in Indianapolis and free agency arriving in less than a month, the Seattle Seahawks have significant roster questions to answer at numerous positions this offseason.
Among them, linebacker stands out like a sore thumb as an area of need defensively, at least in the short term. Starter Jordyn Brooks underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in January, putting him up against the clock to be ready for the start of next season, while fellow starter Cody Barton is slated to become a free agent on March 15, leaving Seattle with what coach Pete Carroll called a "sense of urgency" at the position.
"We have to address it," Carroll told reporters at the combine on Tuesday. "There's a number of guys in free agency, if we need to go that way. Cody had a good finish to the season for us and did a nice job. But there's some there's some opportunities, and some options, so we're wide open."
Considering their current situation at linebacker, the Seahawks may have interest in re-signing veteran Bobby Wagner as one of those potential options. But with the future Hall of Famer still technically on the Los Angeles Rams roster, Carroll and general manager John Schneider took the high road when asked about the possibility of a reunion during their annual NFL combine press conferences.
"We can't talk about that," Carroll quickly responded. "But I love Bobby, he's meant the world to us and our program and he played particularly well against us. So you know, we'll see what happens. But right now, I can't really talk about that."
Schneider offered even fewer words on the subject, simply responding, "He's under contract with the Rams."
Late last week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wagner and the Rams had agreed to part ways, paving the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent. Later reports clarified the team wouldn't officially release him until March 15, however, meaning he couldn't sign elsewhere until after the start of the league year.
With that stipulation, even with later reports indicating Wagner would be allowed to speak with other teams before being released, Carroll and Schneider opted not to play with fire when it comes to potential tampering nearly a year after the Seahawks jettisoned the star defender.
Needing salary cap space after trading quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver, Seattle unceremoniously released Wagner last March, saving close to $20 million by cutting him entering the final year of his contract. After speaking with several interested teams, he signed a five-year contract with Los Angeles, joining the defending champions and returning to where he grew up in Southern California.
Showing he still had plenty left in the tank, Wagner enjoyed a dominant lone season with the Rams, racking up 140 tackles, a career-best six sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. As Carroll made sure to emphasize, the veteran linebacker played at his best against his former team, including recording a pair of sacks and an interception against the Seahawks in a Week 13 loss at SoFi Stadium.
Rewarded for an outstanding season despite the Rams floundering to a 5-12 finish, Wagner earned Second-Team All-Pro recognition, marking the ninth consecutive season receiving All-Pro accolades. He also was selected as Pro Football Focus' First-Team All-Pro with a 90.7 overall grade.
Set to turn 33 in July, Wagner reportedly wants to play for a contender and coming off another All-Pro performance, he likely won't be taking a hometown discount. Still, with Brooks only a month removed from reconstructive knee surgery and Barton slated to be a free agent himself, the Seahawks stand out as a strong fit and naturally surfaced as a suitor for his services.
While Carroll didn't delve into the possibility of linking back up with Wagner on Tuesday, he did offer a somewhat positive update on Brooks' recovery, which may provide some insight into Seattle's intentions at linebacker.
"He's doing really well, the process is happening, the whole rehab process," Carroll explained. "But it's gonna be a while, you know, a healthy young kid, he's going to be able to bounce back as fast as you can come back. And he's a hard worker, and he pushes himself and all of that. But we gotta just hope for a smooth process along the way so there's no setbacks."
Though a timetable for Brooks' return isn't known at this point, Carroll made it sound as if the Seahawks think he has a reasonable chance to make it back on the shorter end of the ACL recovery timeline. If the organization believes he could be back early in the season or even be ready for Week 1 after suffering the injury in December, there wouldn't be near as much of a need for a player of Wagner's stature to replace him.
With that said, Carroll and Schneider haven't been quiet about the desire to upgrade Seattle's front seven after finishing 30th against the run in 2022. Assuming Wagner would be willing to return, he remains one of the best run stopping linebackers in the sport and would instantly help address with that issue.
The biggest question mark, of course, boils down to compensation. Would the Seahawks be open to paying an aging Wagner anywhere close to the money he deserves as an All-Pro linebacker? With quarterback Geno Smith still seeking a new contract after making the Pro Bowl last season, that seems unlikely, if not impossible.
In reality, Wagner would need to be willing to take a pay cut to finish his career where it started. After how well he performed last season, that also seems unlikely to happen, though joining a contender may sway him to take a little less at this stage of his career. If Seattle checks off that box for him, it could still make sense.
With Carroll and Schneider not offering any hints of interest, Wagner and the Seahawks reuniting will remain little more than speculation for now. A more definitive answer to the question at hand will become known next month once he officially becomes a free agent and the team has looked into other options as well. Until then, fans will have to wait and see what happens.
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