Seahawks: 3 replacements for Bobby Wagner if Seattle releases him

Leighton Vander Esch

It feels like Vander Esch has been in the NFL for 10 years but he will only be entering his fifth in 2022 and he will still be just 26 years old. He probably hasn’t performed as well as the Cowboys hoped he would when they took him in the first round in 2018 but he hasn’t been a bust either.

Vander Esch has had some injury issues in his first four years but in his rookie season of 2018 and in 2021 he played every game. He might have played the best football of his career in the last four games of this year as well, so maybe Vander Esch is ready to become the very good player many thought he would be.

It also says something that his playing time increased late in the season too and as it did the better he was. He had 10 tackles in Week 17 and an interception in Week 18. In Dallas’ playoff game against the 49ers, Vander Esch was in on 13 tackles.

Vander Esch is also an off-ball linebacker that while 6’4″ and 260 pounds can still run with speed. Signing him should move Jordyn Brooks to Wagner’s position. Plus, signing Vander Esch wouldn’t break the bank as he likely would sign for $8 million a season or less.