Bobby Wagner
Bobby Wagner is one of the best players of his generation, and while he’s now on the older side, he can still be a valuable part of a defense. Selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Wagner became arguably the most important player on the best defense of the 2010s. Sharing a field with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and several other legendary players, Wagner became a 10-time Pro Bowler, six-time First-Team All-Pro, one-time Super Bowl champion, and even earned an MVP vote in 2014.
That version of Bobby Wagner no longer exists, but he’s still an above-average linebacker. Starting and appearing in 17 games for the Washington Commanders last year, the Utah State product finished the season with 162 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, nine quarterback hits, two interceptions, 4.5 sacks, and a 78.6 PFF grade, the 10th-best mark in the league.
While he is still unsigned, a player like Bobby Wagner could help a contending team that could use more reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball. While the Commanders have yet to bring him back, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes he would be a fit with the Denver Broncos or Dallas Cowboys.
“Landing with a Super Bowl contender would make the most sense at this stage in Bobby Wagner’s career. The Denver Broncos are expected to be that, and they could certainly use an off-ball linebacker,” Knox writes. “…The Cowboys may not be viewed as title contenders, but they have an improved defense, could use help at the second level, and have a Bobby Wagner fan in head coach Brian Schottenheimer.”
Bobby Wagner
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - David Latham, Managing Editor
Bobby Wagner Urged to Sign With Broncos, Cowboys
The Broncos are a fascinating fit for Bobby Wagner. On the one hand, the Denver Broncos are a team on the rise and should be interested in adding veteran talent to increase their odds of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Sean Payton’s squad made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game last season thanks to their incredible defense, and they may have made the Super Bowl if quarterback Bo Nix hadn’t suffered an ankle injury one week earlier against the Buffalo Bills.
On the other hand, the Denver Broncos don’t really need more help on defense. The unit was arguably the NFL’s best last year, and just about every key player is returning for another season. Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton may not be destined for the Hall of Fame like Bobby Wagner is, but they’re both capable starters.
Ultimately, this one could come down to money. If Bobby Wagner is willing to accept a little less to chase a championship, then this signing makes all the sense in the world. However, if he’s waiting for a team that truly is a middle linebacker away from winning it all, he may have to wait for injury to strike a different organization.
Dallas Bound
The Cowboys, meanwhile, make all the sense in the world and would be a perfect destination for Bobby Wagner. Despite his age, Wagner can still play, and he’d probably like to spend his final years with a team that has a realistic shot of going on a deep playoff run. Dallas already has the offensive pieces for this, as Dak Prescott is a top-10 quarterback and the wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is second to none. However, the defense needs some work.
The Cowboys had arguably the league’s worst defense in the first half of the season last year, as the team desperately tried to adjust to a life without Micah Parsons. However, the unit improved in the back half of the season following the Quinnen Williams trade. While nobody would confuse the 2025 Dallas Cowboys with the 1985 Chicago Bears, the defense was good enough to win games.
Adding Bobby Wagner to the mix will only improve the Cowboys defense. They don’t need to be an elite unit to win games with that offense, and adding Wagner to the mix will ensure they’re at least an average unit.