Midseason grades for every Seattle Seahawks 2023 free agent signing
- One returning player has been great
- Some money appears to have been wasted this past offseason
By Lee Vowell
A grade - Bobby Wagner
The Seattle Seahawks missed Bobby Wagner in 2022, obviously. The team missed his leadership, his communication on the field, and his tackling ability. He isn't great in coverage this year, but he has never been great in coverage. Still, he has been given a "good" grade in coverage in 2023, according to PFF, and has been more active in recent weeks in batting down passes over the middle.
Bobby Wagner is in the top ten once again in tackles (95 which is sixth), and he has 2.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. He isn't going to get to double-digit quarterback hits this year, but Seattle's defense doesn't really use him that way. He does blitz sometimes, but defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt prefers to try to get heat on quarterbacks from the outside from players such as Devon Witherspoon and Jamal Adams.
Wagner is the fourth-best graded linebacker so far this year, per PFF. He might not be named first-team All-Pro but second-team should be the expectation. Wagner is a future Hall of Famer and he should retire with Seattle. In fact, as well as he is playing, the Seahawks should bring him back again in 2024. Now let's just hope Seattle can bring back Jordyn Brooks too.