The Pittsburgh Steelers have an opportunity to fix their inside linebackers for the first time since Ryan Shazier.
The Seattle Seahawks went past two icons this week, and while the Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't get their hands on Russell Wilson, they might be able to add a Pro Bowl inside linebacker.
The Seahawks released eight-time pro bowler Bobby Wagner after 10 seasons with the team. Following Wilson's trade, Wagner's release netted about $27 million for Seattle, but it also opens a lot of doors for teams that aren't exploring cap space.
Enter the Steelers.
It's no secret Pittsburgh's inner linebackers struggled in 2021. Devin Bush made a big move after returning from ACL surgery, which didn't work business for Schubert and didn't last long as a Robert Spillane starter.
They'll enter the office with a little less than $30 million in available salary cap space, the earnings potential of Minka Fitzpatrick and Deontay Johnson, and clear eyes on a number of stars in the open market.
Wagner delivers immediate superstar potential, potentially boosting the play of Bush and second-year linebacker Buddy Johnson, while providing much-needed respite in the middle.
At 31, Wagner may be looking for a bigger, but more reasonable contract. He signed a three-year, $54 million deal with Seattle in 2019.
Pittsburgh won't offer $17 million a year, but they will consider something significant for a player of this stature.
Wagner is coming off a career-high 170 tackles in 2021. Really, this is all the Steelers need to hear. The team has struggled for years to replace Ryan Shazier, and when hope vanished at Bush last season, it became clear that the time had come for them to find something right within the group.
Wagner 'will be successful' is an easy substitute for saying. Pittsburgh knows it. They are already thinking of his contract offer.