Ex-Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner joining Rams on reported 5-year, $50 million deal
Bobby Wagner is switching sides in the NFC West.
The longtime Seattle Seahawks linebacker, who was released earlier this month, is signing with the Los Angeles Rams, the team confirmed Thursday.
We’d like to buy a vowel, please. pic.twitter.com/gIIC59ShSW
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 31, 2022
Former Seahawks’ Pro-Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner is signing a five-year, $50 million deal worth up to $65 million with the Los Angeles Rams, per league sources. Wagner is staying in the NFC West.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 31, 2022
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the contract to be a five-year, $50 million deal worth up to $65 million.
Wagner spent 10 years starring for the Seahawks in the middle of their defense, accruing six first-team All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl ring in 2014. No active player has more combined tackles than Wagner's 1,383.
Now, the Seahawks legend will be playing for a division rival, though there may be no love lost on Wagner's end.
Bobby Wagner wasn't happy about his Seahawks release
A team parting ways with a longtime great is never fun, but it happens.
Wagner, however, did not seem pleased with how his exit from Seattle, which broke the same day the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, went down. The linebacker revealed on Twitter days after his release that the team didn't give him advance warning that he would be cut loose.
Crazy part about all this. I played there for 10 years & I didn’t even hear it from them that I wasn’t coming back.
— Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) March 11, 2022
Despite those raw feelings, Wagner still tweeted Seattle would be "forever" his home, but he then went and found a job that could see him help keep his home of a decade out of the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Rams continue busy offseason
The Los Angeles Rams aren't resting on their laurels, we'll give them that much.
After winning their first Super Bowl in over 20 years, the Rams have been one of the NFL's more busy teams this offseason, for better or worse. The team has now signed Wagner and Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson and extended quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, it has seen pass rusher Von Miller head to the Buffalo Bills and left tackle Andrew Whitworth retire, while also trading away wide receiver Robert Woods and releasing all-world punter Johnny Hekker.
The Rams probably aren't done either, as Odell Beckham Jr. could return after a resurgent season in Los Angeles and a new contract for Aaron Donald looms.
All of that adds up to a very tight salary cap situation, but that has never bothered the Rams before.