Seattle Seahawks linebackers are actually really good, per Pro Football Focus
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks basically had to rebuild their linebacker group from 2022 this offseason. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required, sadly), they've done well. In fact, Seattle did so well creating their LB unit for 2023 that they rank among the top ten in the NFL.
Let me rephrase a bit. Seattle ranks number 7 overall among LB groups heading into this season. Of course, it helps to have Bobby Wagner, a sure-thing future Hall of Famer, back after a one-year hiatus when he played with the Los Angeles Rams. Wagner should not only be an upgrade at his inside linebacker position, but he should also help with the overall improvement of the communication of the defense.
Per PFF, Wagner was the highest-graded linebacker in the NFL in 2022. This shouldn't be a shock, though. Wagner has been a first-team or second-team All-Pro every season since 2014. Maybe he won't have the raw statistics (6 sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 10 quarterback hits) that he had with the Rams last year, but this is only because Los Angeles' defense works a bit differently than the Seahawks' does.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker group highly rated in 2023
PFF isn't as high on the rest of Seattle's linebackers as Wagner, though. They do mention Jordyn Brooks as being decent but bad in coverage, but Brooks might not even play this year. One does have to wonder about PFF's accuracy in their rankings, though, even when it comes to the Seahawks. About Brooks, they say he is "durable and tough but may not be a long-term top-end player in the middle." Brooks, of course, may miss a chunk of the season after suffering a knee injury late in the 2022 season.
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Devin Bush will likely be the other inside linebacker next to Bobby Wagner. Bush wasn't a true bust with the Pittsburgh Steelers in his first four years in the league, but he also didn't meet the lofty expectations that come with being a former number 10 overall choice in the NFL draft. Maybe a change of scenery to Seattle will help both Bush and the Seahawks.
Next. 3 recently added Seahawks who could already be cut candidates. 3 recently added Seahawks who could already be cut candidates. dark
It should be noted that Pro Football Focus's ratings are just rankings about inside linebackers. They do rightfully point out at the beginning of the article that many teams, Seattle included, play mostly nickel packages which mean five defensive backs on the field and one less linebacker. In a best-case scenario, safety Jamal Adams is healthy enough to play for much of 2023 and can basically be a hybrid safety-linebacker for Seattle.