NFL 2022: Predicting one cap casualty for every team this offseason
By Andrew Falce
Seattle Seahawks
Potential Cap Casualty: Bobby Wagner
While everyone links Bobby Wagner’s name to greatness, he is at that age where he is beginning to decline. A natural occurrence for a player like him that relies on speed, he seemed a touch slower this season and his instincts weren’t what they once were. Is it necessary that the Seahawks move on from Wagner? No, but younger and cheaper options are there.
Wagner accounts for a huge $20.3-million cap hit in 2022. While the Seahawks aren’t in dire need of cap space, that kind of money is a lot for a declining asset. Considering Seattle is close to a rebuild, moving on from the veteran would be logical. His issues aren’t going away and will only get worse. Now may be the time to move on.
Seattle could try to trade him, but it would be surprising to see any team trade an asset for an old linebacker with a huge cap hit. Instead, the team will likely have to negotiate a pay cut or release the veteran.
He would be a huge name to hit free agency if it happened, but there isn’t a lot keeping him there right now. He would save a lot of cap space for a team rebuilding. Now is the time to move on for a rebuilding Seattle defense.