Seahawks communicating with Bobby Wagner about possible return
Everyone loves a good reunion and this is one Seahawks fans would love to see.
The Seattle Seahawks' decision to release All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner easily registered as one of the franchise's toughest decisions in recent memory.
But, life in the NFL moves fast, as we all know. As of Thursday, we could see a reunion between the two parties.
"We’ve been able to talk to Bobby now and address some of those things, so it’s worked out great,” Seahawks GM John Schneider said during his weekly interview with Seattle Sports 710. “We’re going to be in communication as we go along throughout free agency now.”
This is big for a couple of reasons: Wagner is beloved in Seattle and obviously still fits in with what the Seahawks defense likes to do. The Seahawks also have a big hole at linebacker, currently, with Jordyn Brooks recovering from a torn ACL and Cody Barton potentially heading to free agency.
Wagner is still playing at a high level and would immediately plug the aforementioned hole at linebacker. He earned second-team All-Pro recognition last year after racking up the fourth-most combined tackles of his career (140). He also set a career high in sacks (6.0) and recorded multiple interceptions in a single season for the first time since 2017.
The Los Angeles Rams have allowed Wagner to start speaking with other teams and it's obviously a great sign that the Seahawks are one of the first teams he spoke with.
“We had a great, awesome, frank conversation," said Schneider. "So he knows where we are, and we know where he’s at. We have so much respect for him personally and professionally, so we were able to talk through some things and yeah, we know where it’s going.”
The Seahawks are in much better position when it comes to the salary cap in 2023 than they were last year. The team currently has a little more than $30 million in cap space, per Over The Cap. Now, this doesn't include Geno Smith's 2023 cap hit, but Smith said Thursday his deal gives the 'Hawks flexibility when it comes to free agency. Therefore, money shouldn't be an issue when it comes to potentially signing Wagner.
"With the contracts and the incentives, it's just a way for obviously for both parties to you know, make it work," Smith said during Thursday's press conference. "It allows the team room and space to do what they need to do.
"… I believe in team. I know how important it is for everyone to you know, have an opportunity and so, you know, I trust these guys, I understand that these guys are, you know, building a championship team, and that's what we're about here."
It'll be interesting to see where things go from here, but it certainly sounds like things are on track for the Seahawks to reunite with one of the best players in franchise history.
