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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Tim Weaver

Bobby Wagner named among NFL’s top-3 linebackers going into 2023

Thanks to some luck and a classic Super Bowl hangover for the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks were able to get Bobby Wagner back after cutting him last offseason. That filled the biggest hole on their roster, recovering one of the game’s greatest off-ball linebackers to lead a group that might very well be near the bottom of the league in overall depth otherwise. They got him at a discount too, signing Wagner to a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

Bobby may not be the superhuman stud he was during Seattle’s peak run (2012-2015) but he’s still an elite defender at his position, even at 33 years old. On Sunday Doug Farrar continued his lists of the top 11 players in the NFL at each spot, and Wagner came in at No. 3 on his linebacker rankings.

“The 32-year-old Wagner looked about like he’s always looked in 2022; he’s been on a Hall of Fame track for a while now, and last season, he had six sacks, three quarterback hits, 11 quarterback hurries, 89 solo tackles, and 50 stops. He also allowed 37 catches on 48 targets for 420 yards, 332 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 92.4.”

However, as impressive as Wagner is, he’s not even the best linebacker in the NFC West anymore. That honor goes to Fred Warner of the 49ers, who was appropriately ranked No. 1 on Farrar’s list.

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