Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner is representing himself in his contract negotiations, hoping to become the highest paid at his position in the league. To do so, Wagner will have to top the numbers of fellow linebacker C.J. Mosely, who recently sealed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets.
“I know what I’m worth,” Wagner told reporters after last week’s open OTA. “That’s the standard, and that is the plan to break that.”
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks believes Wagner should look to reset the market when negotiating his extension.
“Plus, the team knows that Wagner can use the potential cost for applying the franchise tag (projected to be $16.845 million next year) to him as a bargaining chip in negotiations,” Brooks writes. “With that number considered the starting point for any new deal, it’s not hard to envision him snagging a deal that puts him in the exclusive $20 million club for non-quarterbacks.”
It’s hard to ignore Wagner’s impact on Seattle’s defense. The five-time Pro Bowler has also earned four All-Pro First-Teams nods and continues to lead the Seahawks in tackles.
“If former teammate Frank Clark (signed a five-year, $104 million deal with the Chiefs after being traded from Seattle) can get a deal that puts him in that club, there’s no way the Seahawks can justify shortchanging their defensive leader when he’s been an unquestioned dominant force in the midst of a mass exodus of Pro Bowl defensive stalwarts,” Brooks argues.
Wagner is hoping to get a deal done before training camp starts later this summer. The Seahawks would be wise to jump on the Wagner wagon and lock up their quarterback of the defense, who has proven he is deserving of the pay raise.
