Add Bobby Wagner to the list of defensive players the Washington Commanders have signed in free agency with Dan Quinn now serving as the head coach.
Quinn and the Commanders have made it a focal point to build the defense, as they have signed multiple free agents on that side of the ball. The one area they were missing was a leader and “quarterback” of the defense, which is exactly what Wagner will bring to the team. He showed he can still play at a high level, as he had a career-high 183 tackles last year for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Wagner signing shows the Commanders are ready to fix things on defense.
Full Contract Details for Bobby Wagner
At Wagner’s age (33), it is unlikely that he will find a long-term contract. That doesn’t mean he isn’t going to make good money, though, as the Commanders signed him on a one-year, $8.5 million deal. With $6 million guaranteed, the Commanders will give him the keys to the defense.
Dan Quinn was with Bobby Wagner in Seattle. So was LBs coach Ken Norton Jr. Now, they're all together in Washington, as the #Commanders get an all-time good guy and leader in their locker room. https://t.co/jEq51Teysh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
This is a low-risk, high-reward deal for the Commanders. If Wagner starts to show some age this year, he won’t be locked into a long-term deal in which you see so many teams get stuck.
Now, if he is the same player he was last season, then he is a tremendous value in free agency.
Wagner and Quinn are familiar with each other, but it has been a long time. Quinn was the defensive coordinator from 2013-2014, right when Wagner was getting his start in the NFL.
Comparing Bobby Wagner’s Deal to Other LBs
What sticks out about this deal is a trend with linebackers getting one-year deals when they are in their 30s.
Another linebacker with a similar career trajectory to Wagner is Lavonte David, who has been a terrific backer for many years. He resigned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year, $9 million base contract.
Older linebackers can still see a lot of money per year, but getting a multi-year contract will be extremely tough unless you’re younger.
Take Patrick Queen as an example, who is nine years younger than Wagner and got a three-year, $41 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
For the time being, older linebackers will likely play on a year-by-year basis, as there are so many young, talented linebackers in the linebacker.
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