Does Bobby Wagner, Seahawks Reunion Make Sense?

With news breaking of a pending divorce with the Los Angeles Rams, fans hope to see Bobby Wagner back in Seattle Seahawks blue and green in 2023. But is a reunion actually realistic? And would it be a smart decision for the franchise?

In a somewhat surprising bombshell dropped on Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams and star linebacker Bobby Wagner will soon be parting ways only one season into a five-year deal agreed upon by the two sides last March.

As reported by NFL Network, the Rams aren't expected to officially release Wagner until March 15, the first day of free agency. At that point, the nine-time All-Pro selection, who serves as his own agent, will be free to sign with any team.

Though Wagner isn't available on the market just yet, however, that hasn't stopped former Seattle Seahawks teammates such as safety Quandre Diggs from already kick-starting recruiting efforts to bring him back to the Pacific Northwest. Fans chimed in as well, with many including the player's Twitter handle with pleas for him to come home.

Former teammates eager to make Bobby Wagner a current teammate https://t.co/T2zjQtBhKR

— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) February 23, 2023

One of the best linebackers in NFL history and the franchise's all-time leading tackler, it shouldn't come as a surprise that upon learning of Wagner's upcoming release, Diggs and others would express immediate interest in a Seattle reunion. Players from other teams also put on their recruiting caps on social media, including Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

But from a Seahawks perspective, while former teammates and the majority of fans would rejoice seeing No. 54 back in blue and green, would it make sense financially and schematically? And, most importantly, would the player even want to return considering how things transpired a year ago?

Last March, on the same day Seattle turned the NFL world upside down by trading quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver, Wagner unfortunately learned of his impending release over social media. Weeks later, coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider admitted to reporters that they regretted how the process played out, taking the blame for poor communication and execution of the popular veteran's exit.

Quickly signing with an NFC West rival and expressing his displeasure with how Seattle's brain trust handled his release, the 32-year old Wagner proved he still has plenty left in the tank with one of his most impressive statistical seasons in 2022. A rare bright spot during an injury-plagued year for the defending champion Rams, who finished with a dismal 5-12 record, he racked up 140 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.

Utilized as a blitzer more than any time in his career and playing extensive snaps along the line of scrimmage, Wagner also posted a personal-best six sacks, earning an elite 90.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and garnering Second-Team All-Pro recognition.

A motivated Wagner played at his very best in two games against the Seahawks, registering a pair of sacks and a highlight-reel interception against Geno Smith in the first meeting at SoFi Stadium. In those two contests, he finished with 14 tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hits, and two passed defensed, giving his former employer fits while making plays all over the field.

If Seattle didn't have major questions at linebacker, the possibility of Wagner returning would be remote at best. But Jordyn Brooks tore his ACL on Jan. 1 in a win over the New York Jets and underwent surgery several weeks later, putting his status for the start of the 2023 season in serious jeopardy. In addition, fellow starter Cody Barton is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month, leaving the team without a healthy returning starter under contract at the position.

After showing Carroll and Schneider first-hand that he can still play at a high level while sporting a rival uniform, a homecoming for Wagner would instantly provide short-term stability and leadership in the heart of the Seahawks defense. His impact would likely be felt the most defending the run, where the team ranked a dreadful 30th overall in yardage and 26th in yards per attempt allowed last season.

As far as concerns go, with his 33rd birthday looming in July, Wagner doesn't move quite as well as he did five years ago. In Seattle's previous 4-3 scheme, his loss of a step or two would have been problematic in coverage and he showed notable signs of decline in that department in 2021, giving up a career-high 679 yards and 83.7 percent completion rate when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

But if there's reason to downplay Wagner's diminishing athleticism, the Seahawks transitioned to a hybrid 3-4 defense that may be better suited for what the veteran linebacker still excels at. With another off-ball linebacker playing alongside him, he won't be asked to cover the same amount of space in zone drops and would be utilized more as a north/south defender. Following the Rams' blueprint, he could see extra snaps on the line with more blitzing opportunities to play to his strengths.

Ultimately, among other factors, Wagner's chances of embarking on a second tour in the Emerald City depends most on cost. Seattle still has to re-sign Smith, who likely will command at least $30 million per year after setting several franchise records last season, and per OverTheCap.com, the organization has less than $16 million in effective cap space. That doesn't give much flexibility for Schneider to work with.

Given their cramped cap situation, Smith's looming extension, and clear areas of need elsewhere on the roster, including along the defensive line, the Seahawks can't afford to pay $10-plus million per year to bring Wagner back into the fold. For a reunion to happen, he would likely need to be willing to accept a significant pay cut, which would be a tough pill to swallow after another outstanding season.

The bottom line? If Wagner wants to be compensated like an All-Pro, it won't be happening in Seattle and a return to his old stomping grounds can already be ruled out. That's a luxury the team simply cannot afford right now, especially for a player on the wrong side of 30.

At the same time, Wagner has earned more than $100 million playing professional football and at this stage of his career, competing for another Lombardi Trophy sits at the top of his wish list. Armed with a talented young team, the Seahawks may present the best opportunity for him to compete for a title once more before hanging up his cleats and make it easier for him to take a hometown discount.

For now, all of this is educated conjecture. With Wagner still on the Rams payroll for the time being, Schneider couldn't delve into the possibility of a reunion when asked about the topic on his weekly radio show on Seattle Sports 710. Even considering their obvious question marks at linebacker, it's anyone's guess if the Seahawks will even have interest.

"He's technically still on their roster, so we won't be able to speak to his agent for a minute or two, which is actually himself," Schneider said.

But with Wagner set to become a free agent for the second time in as many offseasons and still a highly-effective player, this story isn't going to go away anytime soon and speculation should only continue to grow in coming weeks. Once he hits the market, it will be fascinating to see if Seattle attempts to mend fences with the iconic defender and if there's mutual interest in getting back together.

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