The Los Angeles Rams have made their second splash of free agency. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams are signing six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner.
It’s a five-year, $50 million deal that is worth up to $65 million.
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
The Seahawks released Wagner this offseason, parting ways with the star linebacker after 10 seasons. It was a surprising move by Seattle, and Wagner quickly generated interest from several teams.
The Rams are bringing him home, though. Wagner was born in Los Angeles and went to Colony High School in Ontario, Calif., so he’s going back to where it all started.
Last season, Wagner made 170 total tackles, the most in his career. He was a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, the eighth straight year he’s been selected to the Pro Bowl.
Wagner, 31, joins Ernest Jones as a likely starter at inside linebacker, though it remains to be seen who will stay on the field on third downs and obvious passing situations.
Regardless, Wagner helps the Rams both against the run and in coverage. They struggled to defend the middle of the field when teams threw the ball in that area, but Wagner will certainly be an upgrade there.
The Rams actually passed on Wagner back in 2012, trading away from him in the second round – a move Les Snead regrets to this day. He even has a “Bobby Wagner Rule” in the draft, which is essentially that you shouldn’t trade away from a player you like for the sake of collecting more picks.