Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner’s extension mutually beneficial

The Seattle Seahawks recently locked up All-Pro inside linebacker, Bobby Wagner on a lucrative, three-year extension.

This has been a big offseason for the Seattle Seahawks front office. The franchise has locked up Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson to lucrative extensions that ensure the players will be in Seattle for at least the remainder of their primes. While Wilson’s situation grabbed the lime-light earlier this offseason, Wagner’s extension was handled quietly and with little fanfare.

On July 26, Wagner signed a three-year extension worth $54 million. He is now set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

One of the biggest issues heading into the Wagner deal was his age. The Seahawks didn’t want to give Wagner a massive deal that would extend into the declining stages of the inside linebacker’s career. That’s a legitimate concern. No team wants to be shelling out big money to a declining star.

However, the other risk is that Seattle will have to negotiate again with Wagner in 2023. An aging All-Pro could have a wide-ranging value, and that’s often why veterans in their 30s switch teams. Organizations just can’t pinpoint the true worth of a player at that stage of their career or the team’s assessment doesn’t line up with the player’s desired deal.

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At least that next negotiation is years down the road though. Ultimately, I think this three-year extension offered both the Seahawks and Wagner exactly what they wanted. The Seahawks guaranteed they wouldn’t get stuck with a large contract for a linebacker in his mid-30s, and Wagner got his record deal.

When Wagner become a free agent in 2023, he’ll be entering his age-33 season. We’ve seen linebackers like Brian Urlacher make the Pro Bowl at age 32 and 33. Ray Lewis even made the Pro Bowl in his age-36 season. Zach Thomas was a First Team All-Pro at 33 years old as well. The end of Wagner’s deal times out well for Seattle because it places Wagner close to the anticipated end of his prime. It allows the Seahawks to get as much out of prime Wagner as possible without overpaying for him when Father Time inevitably comes calling.

Wagner is also a winner in this deal. During the three years in which he’ll play on the extension, he’ll make an average of $18 million per year. That will make him the highest-paid inside linebacker, based on average annual salary, in league history. Wagner’s quest to become the highest-paid player at his position was based on the five-year, $85 million deal ($17 million per year) C.J. Mosley signed with the New York Jets earlier this offseason.

While there is the potential for conflict down the line, right now Wagner’s three-year extension is beneficial for both him and the Seahawks. The four-time First-Team All-Pro will stay with the team that drafted him for at least the next four seasons. During that time, Seattle will reap the benefits of a future Hall of Famer in his prime, and Wagner’s bank account will remain appeased.