Supply: Seahawks make Wagner highest-paid ILB
Brady HendersonESPN
RENTON, Wash. — In a transfer that appeared more and more seemingly in current days, the Seattle Seahawks and All-Professional linebacker Bobby Wagner have agreed to phrases on a three-year extension value $54 million with $40.2 million assured, a supply confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal, which Wagner negotiated himself, makes him the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebacker at $18 million per season. As anticipated, that tops the $17 million common that C.J. Mosley bought on the free-agent contract he signed with the New York Jets in March, and it represents an enormous leap from the $10.75 million in new-money common from Wagner’s 2015 extension.
Wagner was coming into the ultimate yr of that deal, so his newest extension places him below contract in Seattle via the 2022 season.
Bleacher Report was first to report the deal, which Seattle introduced Friday night time.
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“We really feel blessed that we had been in a position to draft Bobby in 2012, maintain him right here on a second contract, and now to have him signal a 3rd contract is a large deal for us,” Seahawks basic supervisor John Schneider mentioned in an announcement. “Everybody in the entire constructing is happy, I am certain his teammates are going to be very excited. He exemplifies all the pieces that we’re all about, his professionalism, depth, the way in which he handles himself off the sector.
“There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that he’ll go down not solely as one of many biggest Seahawks, but in addition as one of many biggest center linebackers in NFL historical past. It is a main deal for our group shifting into the longer term.”
Wagner, who turned 29 in June, has been on a Corridor of Fame trajectory. He has made 5 consecutive Professional Bowls whereas being named a first-team All-Professional 4 occasions in that span. He has topped 100 tackles each season since Seattle drafted him within the second spherical in 2012, and in line with ESPN charting, he leads the NFL in tackles over the previous 5 seasons with 656. Wagner was fourth in tackles final season with 138 whereas lacking just one.
It was thus a digital certainty that no matter extension Wagner signed would have a better common than that of Mosley, who has made the Professional Bowl in 4 of his 5 seasons however has but to make All-Professional.
“I am actually excited to have this carried out, excited that I get to be a Seahawk for an extended, very long time,” Wagner mentioned in an announcement. “Like I’ve at all times mentioned, I need to play my whole profession right here, and I really feel like as we speak is a step towards that. It feels wonderful being right here. I’ve watched individuals keep, I’ve watched individuals go, and to have the belief from the group to proceed to let me lead this crew, lead the protection, it is a terrific feeling. I am excited to get again to work.”
Coach Pete Carroll expressed optimism again in March Wagner deal would get carried out, proper after Mosley’s deal pushed the presumptive price ticket to north of $17 million per season.
“He is by no means carried out something that does not symbolize class and character and management,” Carroll mentioned of Wagner, a three-time defensive captain, on Thursday. “I am not even speaking about his efficiency, simply the person who he has at all times been, and he’ll proceed to be that for us. That is simply the man that we all know, and we love, and we’re blissful to have on our membership.”
Wagner’s $18 million common ties him with Tre Flowers of the Detroit Lions for the sixth-highest-paid defender within the NFL, in line with Spotrac.
Wagner was beforehand represented by Athletes First however joined former Seahawks teammates Russell Okung and Richard Sherman in deciding to symbolize himself. That meant navigating negotiations with basic supervisor John Schneider and VP of soccer administration Matt Thomas with out the buffer and experience of an agent.
Wagner earlier within the offseason downplayed the problem in having direct and blunt conversations with the entrance workplace that an agent would in any other case filter when relaying to a participant.
“On the finish of the day, me representing myself should not be a giant deal,” Wagner mentioned in Could. “They need to have a look at it as another deal. I feel it is lots of people frightened about them saying issues and me having the ability to take criticism. That is a part of the sport. You have bought to have the ability to take criticism. On the finish of the day, you need the individual to say one thing straight to your face how they really feel versus to any person else. I do not want a 3rd occasion.”
Sherman had a celebratory response to information of Wagner’s deal that additionally took a shot on the critics of gamers who symbolize themselves.
Hell yea!!! Get ya cash!!! Who was his agent? https://t.co/EhtaBb0QC3
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 27, 2019
The Seahawks and Wagner had been working towards a deal for some time, and there was a perception throughout the group that it could get carried out early in coaching camp. Fellow linebacker Okay.J. Wright, Wagner’s closest good friend on the crew, shared the identical perception when he mentioned after the primary apply of camp on Thursday that it was his impression deal was nearly carried out.
In step with the strategy he took all through OTAs and minicamp, Wagner confirmed up for coaching camp and attended conferences however was a spectator throughout apply. Curiously, he watched on Thursday together with his sweatshirt turned inside out, exhibiting no crew branding. He was again in his No. 54 jersey and Seahawks helmet Friday, despite the fact that he once more sat out.
Wright was requested Thursday if he sensed any frustration on Wagner’s half deal hadn’t been reached.
“No, I do not assume he is pissed off,” Wright mentioned. “I consider that one thing will occur and I am fairly constructive. The group is aware of what he means to us and it is sort of, like I mentioned again in OTAs, a no brainer to get it carried out.”
Mentioned quarterback Russell Wilson on Friday: “He deserves to be the highest-paid linebacker. There’s no one higher than him within the recreation.”
Wagner’s extension is one other main transfer in what has been an eventful offseason for the Seahawks, who let All-Professional security Earl Thomas go away in free company, traded star pass-rusher Frank Clark to Kansas Metropolis after which made Wilson the highest-paid participant in league historical past with a four-year, $140 million extension. Even with Wilson’s megadeal, the Seahawks had greater than sufficient cap house to increase Wagner after buying and selling Clark and clearing his $17.128 million in scheduled wage.
“These are two pillars that we need to construct a younger soccer crew round,” Schneider mentioned of Wilson and Wagner. “That was a main aim for us as we entered the offseason, and understanding that we’ll be a younger soccer crew with nice management on either side of the ball — Bobby, Okay.J. and Russ — that is huge for us.”