Pros and Cons of Lions Signing LB Bobby Wagner

Read more on the pros and cons of the Lions signing linebacker Bobby Wagner.

The Los Angeles Rams have elected to part ways with star linebacker Bobby Wagner.

News broke Thursday that the 11-year veteran is set to be released just one year after signing a five-year, $50 million deal. The move isn’t correlated with his performance,, as he notched a career-high six sacks and 140 tackles for the Rams.

Rather, the team is making the move due to salary-cap constraints. Wagner, one of the league’s best linebackers, will now hit the free-agent market. As a result, the Rams will reportedly add $5 million in cap space.

The Detroit Lions have a need at the position, so pursuing one of the league’s best could be beneficial. His veteran presence and talent could do wonders for an otherwise young Lions defense.

Wagner has done it all in his storied career. He won a Super Bowl in his early years with Seattle, and has made nine straight All-Pro teams. That experience is something that is severely lacking in the Lions’ current linebacker room.

Currently, Detroit’s most experienced player on the roster is Alex Anzalone, who is set to become a free agent. 

Outside of Anzalone, the Lions relied mostly on second-year linebacker Derrick Barnes and rookie Malcolm Rodriguez to play meaningful snaps.

Wagner could be the answer to plenty of Detroit’s defensive questions. 

The one concern regarding his performance is his age, as he’s going to enter his age-33 season in 2023. Yet, his 2022 performance leads one to believe that he still has plenty left in the tank.

He was Pro Football Focus’ top-graded linebacker in 2022, and still displayed strong numbers in pass coverage. His 77.9 coverage grade would’ve topped the charts for the Lions last season, as the group was often left befuddled in coverage.

There are other potential options for the Lions and general manager Brad Holmes, including Lavonte David, who could be added with more of a reasonable annual contract (if the market is not as strong for his services). 

Wagner will likely command a salary in the $7.5-$10 million range, though it will likely come on shorter terms than his previous deal with the Rams due to his age. From a financial standpoint, this seems like a deal Detroit's front office could make.

Former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

He’ll have a list of suitors when free agency rolls around. The Lions can pitch their rise to contention, with this status often being coveted by free agents late in their careers. 

Also, the Lions seem to be targeting young players and building through the draft. 

Adding a player of Wagner's experience would likely take away from the development of the young linebackers on the roster. 

It is far more likely Holmes and the front office will look to the draft to target young linebackers and bring back Anzalone for one more season. 

ESPN reported the Rams' decision to part ways with Wagner was made partly because of Wagner’s desire to be on a winning team.

With that said, the veteran could be more willing to sign with a team that is much closer to Super Bowl contention than the Lions. 

In the early list released of potential suitors, Detroit is featured, along with the Steelers, Giants, Bengals and Eagles. 

Judging by how the Lions have constructed their roster the last two years, Wagner will not be a part of the organization in 2023; subsequently, paving the way for younger talent to step up and develop in Aaron Glenn's system.