12th Man Rising
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Should Seahawks keep K.J. Wright or go for one of these free agents?

By Todd Vandenberg

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Outside linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrate a turnover on downs against in the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seattle Seahawks won 22-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Outside linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrate a turnover on downs against in the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seattle Seahawks won 22-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Anthony Barr could join the Seahawks
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 16: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after sacking Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Who could replace K.J. Wright for the Seahawks?

Thomas Davis, 6’1″, 235 pounds, 36 years old at season’s start. Davis has been and still is one of the best outside linebackers in the league. Despite just playing 12 games, he still made 79 combined tackles and broke up six passes. He had the highest ranking by Pro Football Focus of any pure outside linebacker entering free agency this year. Not too bad, right?

The problem is that 36 is pretty old in NFL terms, especially for a linebacker. Not everyone can be James Harrison. Seabass notwithstanding, the Seahawks generally try to get younger, not older. Davis is still an excellent player, but his production isn’t likely to rise. So, it’s on to the kids – and there’s only one that’s even close to Wright in performance.

Anthony Barr, 6’5″, 255 pounds, 27 years old at season’s start. Barr is coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl season for the Vikings. He’s averaged 76 total tackles, 5.0 pass defenses, 6.8 tackles for a loss, and 7.0 quarterback hits per 16 games in his career. That sounds like a Pro Bowler, doesn’t it? Well, let’s stack that up to K.J. Wright. For the record, Wright is 6’4″, 246 pounds, and will be 30 when the season starts.

Wright has averaged 106 combined tackles, 4.7 pass defenses, 7.1 tackles for a loss, and 3.3 quarterback hits per 16 games. Barr is better at getting to the quarterback – by design – but Wright averages 30 more tackles per season. That is an enormous difference, and why I see Barr as something of a downgrade. Besides, the wrong player went to the Pro Bowl too often.

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