10 most valuable Seahawks draft selections of the last decade
By Geoff Shull
6th best Seahawks draft selection of the 2010s: KJ Wright, LB
KJ Wright has been one of the most underrated players in the NFL over the last decade. He has Seattle’s top weapon against the passing attack in the middle of the field.
KJ Wright was selected out of Mississippi State in the 4th round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He brought exceptional size and football IQ to the roster. In the pre-draft process, he was deemed a tweener between a defensive end and linebacker.
Fast forward to today and Wright has been one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL. Over the last 9 seasons he has accumulated 855 tackles. This is good for the 7th most tackles in the NFL amongst linebackers. He also has the 7th most passes defended in the NFL over this span.
Wright is one of those players who has quietly been a top tier player. He isn’t flashy enough to be a media highlight. He doesn’t make a lot of interceptions or cause a lot of fumbles. He simply makes the right plays and does so often.
Sports Illustrated recently selected KJ Wright as one of the 3 most underrated linebackers of the 2010’s. Wright has 5 seasons accumulating over 100 tackles, including 4 straight seasons between 2014-2017. During this last season he had career highs in tackles (132), passes defended (11), and interceptions (3). So much for a down year statistically.
Wright may be slowing down; however, he still is one of the smartest football players in the NFL. He knows how to make plays and do it consistently. There are very few players who can sniff out a trick play like KJ Wright can. Check out some of Wrights most impressive plays in the video below.
While his time with the organization may be running out, thanks to the selection of Jordyn Brooks. It’s of the utmost importance that we remember just how special Wright has been for the team. He is the longest-tenured Seahawk on the roster today. He has been a true staple of the organization.