The Seattle Seahawks began a major roster overhaul this week, trading quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, and cutting Pro Bowl defender Bobby Wagner in a move that will have ramifications on the free agent linebacker market.
Wagner immediately becomes one of the best defensive players available in free agency and is someone at least a dozen teams, including the Detroit Lions, reportedly have interest in.
How long the Lions last in the Wagner sweepstakes remains to be seen, and the guess here is their pursuit won’t last long (with several contending teams also in the mix).
But with the free agent negotiating period set to open at noon Monday, it’s clear the Lions have both a need and desire to improve a linebacking corps that was an Achilles heal of their 29th-ranked defense last season.
The Lions have interest in re-signing pending free agent Alex Anzalone, who wore the defensive headset most of last season, but need at least one more linebacker as they transition to more of an even-front defense.
Derrick Barnes showed promise as a rookie despite inconsistency, and Josh Woods played well in his cameo at the position after contributing most of the season on special teams. But there are several starting-caliber players available in free agency who should find temporary homes on reasonable deals, including the Las Vegas Raiders’ Nicholas Morrow and the Dallas Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch.
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Free agent LB report
On the Lions’ roster for 2022: Derrick Barnes, Josh Woods, Curtis Bolton, Tavante Beckett.
Pending Lions free agents: Alex Anzalone, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Anthony Pittman (ERFA-tendered), Shaun Dion Hamilton.
Top free agents: Bobby Wagner; Foyesade Oluokun, Atlanta Falcons; De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers.
Others who may interest Lions: Nicholas Morrow, Raiders.
Market watch: Wagner’s release spiced up an ordinary off-ball linebacker market. Typically, a handful of top players get big money at the position, while the next tier settle for one-year prove-it type deals. Wagner’s market is expected to include the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, where his old coordinator, Dan Quinn, runs the defense. Campbell is poised to cash in after playing on a one-year, prove-it deal last season, and Oluokon, who led the NFL with 192 tackles, should generate ample interest. The Lions might not make their way to the deep end of the market, but Morrow is the type of young, unheralded player who can impact a defense in multiple ways.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.