Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NFL future of former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner is uncertain as the veteran turns 36 in June.Wagner is a free agent after spending the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, but the question now is whether another team will bring him aboard for the 2026 season.
Despite his age, CBS Sports’ Carter Bahns is predicting the former Seahawk to play this upcoming campaign. Moreover, they even floated a couple of landing spots for him, including the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys.
“Jerry Jones built some defensive depth over the first couple weeks of free agency but still lacks the kind of splashy addition that could incite optimism for a quick and noticeable turnaround,”Bahns wrote in his article that was published on March 29.
“Wagner may not be a break-the-bank kind of player at this stage of his career, but he would raise the defense’s floor more than some of the team’s other offseason pickups.”
Meanwhile, for the Bills, Wagner fixes a major issue in the short term.
“No team allowed more touchdowns on the ground than the Bills at 24,” Bahns wrote. “If anyone can fix that issue, it is Wagner, whom many regard as one of the top inside linebackers of his generation.
“The Bills need to fill their holes quickly in order to break through during their Super Bowl window, and Wagner is the definition of a short-term upgrade who can come in for a year or two and help take this team to the next level.”
Commanders Leave the Door Open for Ex-Seahawks LB
Seattle drafted Wagner in 2012 and would go on to play for Seattle until 2021 and then return for a second stint in 2023. During his career with the Seahawks, Wagner had 1,566 total tackles, 27 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, and 11 interceptions in 168 regular-season games,per StatMuse.
After leaving in 2023, he found success with the Commanders. Although the Commanders left the door open for Wagner to return, they are comfortable moving on. As a result, Washington head coach Dan Quinn shared the latest on whether they’d bring Wagner back for a third season.
“We would never shut the door on [Wagner],” Quinn said (h/tJohn Keim of ESPN). “We do feel like there’s some players that are about to take off at [his] position.
“He’s like the most remarkable player and leader. I wanted to make sure I said how important he was to me to come here together, like what standards could look like. And then yes, like what Adam said to him and some others, ‘We’re going to leave the door open, and we’ll see what that looks like over the time ahead.'”
Bobby Wagner Looking to Show He Can Still Play in 2026
Wagner closed out last season by becoming just the third player in NFL history to reach 2,000 career tackles, doing so in a season-ending victory over thePhiladelphia Eagles.
The veteran linebacker finished the 2025 season with a78.6 overall PFF defensive grade, placing him ninth among 88 qualifying linebackers. While his coverage grade of 51.1 ranked 51st as quarterbacks posted a 107.2 passer rating when targeting him in coverage.
Meanwhile, his run-defense and pass-rush numbers stood out — 90.3 and 92.4, ranking fifth and second at his position, respectively.Moreover, he played 1,132 snaps for the Commanders, making 107 solo tackles and generated 20 total pressures, including five sacksand he was charged with eight missed tackles over the course of the season.