Could Chargers Make A Run At This All-Pro Linebacker?

The Bolts need significant defensive reinforcements, and this could be the first.

With the official start of 2024 NFL free agency around 48 hours away, the list of potential Bolts' signings has begun to form. 

One key name to watch is linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is reportedly "unlikely" to return to the Seahawks. 

Wagner, 33, had been rumored to the Bolts in previous offseasons. A terrific run stopper and tackler, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer would fit exactly what the Chargers need. 

Despite his age, he's coming off of his 10th All-Pro campaign, emphasizing that his play has remained at an elite level. 

Last year, he signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl back in 2013 as a member of Dan Quinn's Legion of Boom defense. His market value should be similar to that, making him affordable for a Chargers team that will likely make more moves to free up cap space, including the presumed cut of veteran wide receiver Mike Williams, among others. 

Wagner would fit well both on the field and in the locker room, as his image around the league has only ever been good. With his pedigree, playoff experience, and veteran leadership, he has the chance to be a driving force of the cultural reset in LA, a city he's familiar with after spending a year with the Rams in 2022.