Seattle Seahawks: 3 Key contributors departing in 2019 free agency

1. K.J. Wright

K.J. Wright was selected in the fourth round, 99th overall, by the Seahawks in the 2011 NFL Draft. He became a starter as a rookie when he recorded 65 combined tackles and two sacks. In 2012, a talented middle linebacker named Bobby Wagner joined the linebacking corps and ripped off 140 combined tackles in his rookie season.

Wright put up 98 combined tackles to go along with Wagner’s totals and the two have been a dominant and stable force ever since, assuming you don’t count 2018 when Wright played in just five games — but we’ll get to that.

People often forget that Wright was a prominent member of the Legion of Boom defense along with Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Wagner. Many talk about how, now that Thomas is leaving, that Wagner is the only one left. But Wright was still there in 2018 as well. On a team that was once filled with superstars, Wright was also a key contributor.

The outside linebacker and his contributions to the Seahawks are so often overlooked because, in a league where pass-rushing outside linebackers can regularly post 10 sacks per year, Wright isn’t asked to be a pass rusher. Instead, he quietly posted 700 combined tackles through his first seven seasons.

There was a stretch from 2014-17 where he averaged 114 tackles per season. During that same time, Wagner averaged 129 tackles per season, and he was earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections consistently at that point. Simply, Wright and his accomplishments get brushed aside too quickly too often.

Wright will be allowed to enter free agency because he’s going on 30 and is coming off of a season riddled with injuries. That all makes sense and fits with the mold that football is a business and being young and healthy plays a large role in a player’s success within that business, but the Seahawks have a big need at outside linebacker.

Barkevious Mingo recorded just 48 combined tackles in 14 starts in 2018 and Shaquem Griffin didn’t do anything to signal that he’s ready to take over as a starter.

Wright, a player who has had so much success with the Seahawks and has paired perfectly with Wagner for years, is about to become one of the best available outside linebackers in free agency. His consistent production and Seattle’s glaring needs at outside linebacker make it easy to see why Wright will be the Seahawks biggest loss in free agency this offseason.