K.J. Wright and Seahawks Agree on Four-Year Extension

UPDATE: It appears that the value of the deal will be $27 million over the four years, averaging out to $6.75 million per year.

The Seattle Seahawks and linebacker K.J. Wright have agreed on a four-year extension that will keep the 25-year-old would-be free agent in Seattle until 2019.

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Wright was selected in the 4th round with the 99th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and earned a starting role as a rookie. In his first year Wright totaled 46 tackles and 2 sacks and has since accumulated 223 solo tackles (110 assists), 6.5 sacks and 1 interception in 58 games with Seattle. The Seahawks are 38-20 in games that Wright has appeared in.

Had K.J. Wright and the Seahawks not agreed on a contract extension, the linebacker would have been a hot commodity with multiple teams looking to add a piece of the Seahawks defense to their roster. For now it appears we’ll have Wright in Seattle for at least four more years.

In a statement on the extension, Seattle GM John Schneider had this to say. “In the offseason, we identified K.J. as one of our core players moving forward and aimed to keep him as a part of the Seahawks family for a long time. The timing of this signing gives us the ability to keep as many of our core players together as we possibly can. Since Day One, K.J. has been a true professional in his daily approach and we are excited for K.J., his family and the 12s to keep him in the organization.”

It’s nice to see John Schneider and Pete Carroll locking up and rewarding players that aren’t necessarily considered to be “star” guys on the team. K.J. is undoubtedly a big piece in the overall success of this defense and it would have presented another hole to fill in the offseason had the Seahawks not been able to bring him back.

Seattle will now be able to address other areas through free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft.