Bobby Wagner is heading to Hollywood. The 8x Pro Bowler has reportedly signed a 5yr / $50M contract with the Los Angeles Rams, which could go as high as $65M with incentives.
Wagner was released by the Seattle Seahawks earlier this month. The Seahawks originally drafted Wagner out of Utah State in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
A six time first team all pro, Wagner helped Seattle win a Super Bowl, and reach another during his time in the Pacific North-West. The linebacker posted a career high 170 combined tackles in 2021, and leaves Seattle as the franchise’s all time leading tackler with 1,383.
The 31 year old was reportedly deciding amongst the Rams, Cowboys and Ravens this offseason. By signing with the Rams, Wagner is returning to his roots as he was born in Los Angeles, and attended High School in Ontario, CA.
While the Rams may have lost out on pass rusher Von Miller, they more than compensated by bringing in a future hall of famer in Bobby Wagner. The former Aggie joins an imposing LA defense that already boasts Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
Wagner will slide into a linebacker group that includes Leonard Floyd, Ernest Jones, and Justin Hollins in the Rams 3-4 defensive scheme. Los Angeles declined to tender Troy Reeder who was a restricted free agent in order to make room for the 2x NFL tackles leader.
The reigning Super Bowl champions appear to be holding firm on their strategy to forgo draft picks and bring in established veterans. LA does not have a draft pick in either of the first two rounds in the upcoming NFL draft, meaning they had to work the free agent market in order to add an impact player to their roster.
With Wagner now in LA, the last member of Seattle’s famed legion of boom defense has officially left the franchise, as has QB Russell Wilson. While the Rams are reloading for another run at a championship, Seattle appears to be beginning a full fledged tear down as part of a rebuild.
The Rams are expected to officially introduce Wagner at a press conference later this week.
Photo: Keith Allison. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.