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Come Fan with UsMonday, June 29, 2026

Rookie linebacker Bobby Wagner working with the starters for the Seattle Seahawks

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Getty Images

To say the Seattle Seahawks have had a muddled linebacker situation this offseason would be putting it lightly.

Seattle entered the offseason severely undermanned at linebacker with a pair of starters hitting the open market. Luke Kuechly and Dont'a Hightower were popular picks for the Seahawks in mock drafts. But then the team brought in Barrett Ruud and re-signed Matt McCoy and Leroy Hill.

Problem solved, right? Well, not quite.

The Seahawks shocked the world by taking Bruce Irvin with their first round, who is a bit of a hybrid player. More importantly, they passed on Dont'a Hightower, and Luke Kuechly was off the board, meaning they would have to stick with what they had at linebacker.

But in the second round, Bobby Wagner was on the board. Wagner dominated the Senior Bowl and was seen as a lock for round two. Seattle didn't hesitate to make him their pick.

Now it appears they may have found their 2012 starter at middle linebacker. Wagner worked with the starters at minicamp this weekend, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Inside linebackers tend to have a smooth transition to the National Football League. Wagner should be no different. He has the talent and the football instincts to make an instant impact.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Wagner contend for rookie of the year honors.

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