Six-Time All-Pro Linebacker Re-Signs with the Commanders

Bobby Wagner has cemented himself as one of the greatest linebackers of his generation. He’s been named to the First-Team All-Pro six times. The six-time All-Pro won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s spent the last three years on three different teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, back to Seattle and most recently the Washington Commanders.

Now, it has been reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, that Wagner and the Commanders have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $9.5 million, with eight million being guaranteed. Wagner is a middle linebacker who has great instincts and IQ of where the play is going. Most things happen for him before the snap. He’s in a good position to make open-field tackles. Wagner has technical footwork and finds angles to consistently take down ball carriers. The veteran was elite at playing his role as cover three when he was in Seattle and played excellent man coverage this past season in Washington. The Super Bowl Champion can defend all the route trees that cross the middle of the field. When Wagner blitzes the quarterback, he can get home with a bull rush or a simple speed rush. 

The veteran does all the things that do not show up on the stat sheet, including box techniques when he flushes the ball carrier toward his teammates to help them make an easier tackle. Wagner also makes plays with coverage sacks and helps clean up the pass rush when the quarterback has ample time to pass. The long-time veteran is a tackling machine, leading the league in tackles in 2017. The future Hall of Famer has recorded 35 sacks, 72 pass deflections, and 13 interceptions. He’s made the Pro Bowl 10 times and has recorded over 100 tackles in every season he’s been in the league. The six-time All-Pro is in the back end of his prime and potentially his career.