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The long-rumored trade involving Russell Wilson finally went down on Tuesday as the QB is set to relocate to the Denver Broncos. Now opting to go on a complete rebuild, the Seattle Seahawks also released veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner who joined the team on the same day as Wilson did back in 2012.
After a 10-year tenure, he earned six first-team All-Pro selections, eight Pro Bowl nods, and a Super Bowl XLVIII title. At the age of 31, he still put up a solid 2021 campaign with 170 combined tackles, five passes defended, and a sack in 16 appearances. Wagner has yet to show clear signs of slowing down which is why he is still expected to gain the interest of several suitors in the upcoming offseason.
With that said, here are the three best free-agent destinations for Bobby Wagner in the 2022 NFL free agency.
Bobby Wagner Free Agent Destinations
The New England Patriots also completed a surprising move of their own as they released veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy ahead of the free agency period. Two of their other linebackers in Dont'a Hightower and Ja'Whaun Bentley are set to be free agents as well and are not certain to be brought back for 2022.
Bobby Wagner would be a logical choice for the Patriots as he can still play at a high level and can offer a veteran presence in the locker room as well. He is also an athletic defender who can eventually form a potent duo with Pro Bowl LB Matthew Judon in their defensive front.
However, the Patriots will have to make some adjustments in order to make room for Wagner as they only have around $11.5 million in available cap space as of the moment. If they manage to acquire him then their defense will surely wreak havoc against opposing teams next season.
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Another potential destination for Wagner would be the Baltimore Ravens. Through the years, the team's defense has always been held in high regard although injuries have hindered them from performing at their best in 2021. Coming off a disappointing season, the Ravens then parted ways with defensive coordinator Don Martindale in an effort to retool their defense moving forward.
Should they opt to pursue his services, Wagner will then be paired with up-and-coming talent in Patrick Queen to lead the linebackers group. Under a new DC and with a solid veteran at the helm, the Ravens will be in a good position to get better on the defensive end as they only recorded a total of 34 sacks in 2021, per Stat Muse.
Currently with $9 million in cap space available, Baltimore will have to either restructure or clear contracts in order to accommodate Bobby Wagner into their team. Given the veteran's vast experience and skill set, there is no doubt that he can help out and be a huge asset to the Ravens' bid to return to the playoffs next season.
The Dallas Cowboys tops this list as the most ideal destination for Bobby Wagner thus far. America's Team saw a significant improvement in 2021 and is only a few pieces away from being a solid playoff contender in the NFC.
Should Wagner find his way to Dallas, he will be reuniting with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn who held the same post with the Seahawks from 2013-14. The veteran linebacker will also get to form a deadly combination with Micah Parsons who had a strong rookie campaign last season.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for the team is to get rid of cap casualties and restructure some of their contracts as they are currently $21 million over the cap space for 2022. If they manage to find a way to make room for Wagner then the Cowboys will surely be hard to stop, especially on the defensive side of the ball moving forward.
