Seahawks Pre-OTAs Roster Reset: Linebackers

With No. 54 back in the saddle again and Jordyn Brooks ahead of schedule in his recovery from major knee surgery, linebacker could be a surprise area of strength for the Seattle Seahawks, though plenty of questions remain unanswered at the position.

Though the 2023 season remains months away, the NFL never sleeps. And after landing a new 10-player draft class, the Seattle Seahawks have transitioned into phase two of their offseason program with OTAs and minicamps just around the corner.

Once a major strength for the Seahawks, inside linebacker took a hit a year ago when Bobby Wagner departed for the Rams and Jordyn Brooks blew out his knee in a Week 17 win over the Jets, creating questions short and long-term at the position. Luckily, Wagner's exit turned out to be only a one-year hiatus and along with him rejoining his original team, former Michigan star Devin Bush was also added to the fold, solidifying the middle of the team's defense with proven talent.

Transitioning from the frenzy of free agency and the draft to on-field offseason work, where do things stand for Seattle at linebacker? Here's a look at projected starters, backups, a wild card to watch, and what could come next at the position:

Don't miss our roster resets for other positions:

- Quarterbacks

- Safeties

- Running Backs

- Cornerbacks

- Receivers

Projected Starters: Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks

After one standout season with the Rams, the Seahawks brought back Wagner on a one-year deal, reuniting with one of the franchise's all-time greats after releasing him as a cap casualty only one year prior. Though he will turn 33 this summer, the future Hall of Famer showed in his time away from the Pacific Northwest that he remains a force to reckon with in the middle, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors with 140 tackles, a career-best 6.0 sacks, and two interceptions. Even if he isn't the same player he was three or four years ago, his return should still provide a short-term upgrade on the field and boost leadership in the locker room on a young team.

Tearing his ACL in December, Brooks looked poised to miss a sizeable chunk of the 2023 season due to the poor timing of the injury. However, entering the final year of his rookie contract with much to play for after the Seahawks declined his fifth-year option earlier this month, things seem to be pointing up with coach Pete Carroll hinting that he could potentially be back on the field at some point in training camp. Putting the tackling machine next to Wagner once again would further solidify the middle of Seattle's defense and having him available for the entire season would be a major boost for the team's chances of competing for an NFC West title.

Backups: Devin Bush, Jon Rhattigan, Vi Jones, Chris Garrett, Cam Bright, Patrick O'Connell

Providing invaluable insurance if Brooks isn't ready for the start of the season, the Seahawks were proactive in free agency signing Bush, a former first-round pick for the Steelers, to a one-year deal. Coming out of Michigan, the Florida native entered the NFL with elite athletic traits and finished as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019. However, an ACL tear of his own in his second season set him back tremendously and he wasn't the same player upon his return the past two seasons. Just 24 years old, Seattle will be hoping a change of scenery helps him round back into pre-injury form.

Returning from a knee injury of his own midway through last season, Rhattigan remains a favorite of the coaching staff thanks to his toughness and high football IQ and aside from being a core special teamer, he still has a chance to potentially play his way onto the field defensively down the road. Meanwhile, Jones added 10 pounds of muscle to his 6'3 frame this offseason, and after impressing on special teams last training camp and dressing for three regular season games, he could be a sleeper to watch in the hunt for one of the final 53-man roster spots in August.

Wild Card: Bush

At one point, Bush appeared to be on a rapid trajectory to become one of the NFL's best young linebackers. Starting 15 games as a rookie for Pittsburgh, he racked up 106 tackles, intercepted a pair of passes, registered nine tackles for loss, and returned one of his four fumble recoveries for a touchdown. But he didn't have the same burst and explosiveness after coming back from a severe knee injury and saw his production dip over his final two full seasons in the Steel City, losing his job late last year due to inconsistent play.

Rolling the dice on Bush after he posted 81 tackles in 2022, the Seahawks may not need him to be a full-time defender if Brooks makes it back for the start of the season. But with him under contract, the team won't have to rush Brooks back either and if he plays significant snaps early and performs well, he could carve out a sub-package role even when everyone is healthy at linebacker. 

What's Next?

On one hand, it can be argued with Wagner's homecoming and Bush's addition that linebacker has improved as much as any position on Seattle's roster compared to a year ago. On the flip side, however, Wagner isn't getting any younger, Bush has been a shell of his rookie self for the better part of two years, and uncertainty remains about Brooks' timetable coming back from injury and how he'll perform when he does return to action. This group could be a strength for the franchise in 2023 if the stars align, but question marks persist that will hopefully be answered over the next couple of months.

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