The Pittsburgh Steelers need to stop whatever they are doing, and make the call to Bobby Wagner since he represents himself. Wagner will be able to sign with any team he chooses starting tomorrow, and he's surely to be a hot commodity. He should be on the first flight into Pittsburgh tomorrow for a physical, and to see if the two sides can work out a deal to solidify the inside of the Steelers defense. The Steelers made a bold move last year trading for Joe Schobert, and it didn't work out. So let's actually fix it this time with a bold move.
Unfortunately, Schobert is going to have to be released for this to happen. That move will save the Steelers 7.9 million that they can use towards signing Wagner. Wagner paired with Devin Bush, with Brian Flores as their coach will likely save Bush's career. At the very least it should propel Bush to be average. That would be good enough with Wagner next to him.
Wagner is an 8 time All-Pro. 8 TIMES! He's been in the league for ten seasons, and likely starting to hit the downside of his career at some point, but last season he had 170 tackles, 5 pass break up's, and 1 forced fumble. Seems like he's still pretty elite. He's also an 8 time Pro Bowler. These players don't just hit the market, but Seattle must figure they're giving their franchise icon a chance to go finish his career somewhere that isn't entering an entire rebuild. It's hard to believe that they couldn't trade Wagner, but here we are.
Seahawks informed eight-time All-Pro and Pro-Bowl LB Bobby Wagner, a franchise icon, that they are releasing him, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2022
Wagner arrived in Seattle on the same 2012 day as Russell Wilson and now leaves the same day, too. End of an era in Seattle.
Wagner was set to count 20 million against the cap for Seattle in 2022 before becoming a free agent in 2023. He would've had a 16 million dollar base salary this season. With the savings from releasing Schobert the team could offer Wagner a contract in the range of 3 year 45 million. That wouldn't be much less than he signed two years ago in Seattle. (3 years 54 million) That would allow the team to still be able to go out and add pieces at other positions, and if they really needed to they could restructure the contracts of Cam Heyward, and TJ Watt to free up many more millions.
Speaking of Heyward, he was just as surprised as everyone else.
Huh?
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) March 9, 2022
The Steelers had an up-close look at Wagner at Heinz Field in 2021 / PHOTO YAHOO!
Wagner instantly gives the Steelers a Super Bowl caliber defense. Getting a healthy, and ready Stephon Tuitt back would solidify that statement. The team would be able to focus on the secondary with a player like Ahkello Witherspoon, instead of needing a super star on the back end at corner. Even if Tuitt doesn't return the Steelers could roll with Chris Wormley if they're able to get a run stopping nose tackle as insurance for Tyson Alualu. There are a few in the draft like Devonte Wyatt.
Any other off-season this wouldn't be possible, but with the shift in the Steelers franchise coming with Ben Roethlisberger retired, the team needs to make a splash with their cap room. Wagner would be the best move easily.
