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This Giants-Seahawks Trade for Bobby Wagner Actually Makes Sense

By Scott Rogust

The Giants could feasibly improve their linebacker corps by trading for Seahawks stud Bobby Wagner.
The Giants could feasibly improve their linebacker corps by trading for Seahawks stud Bobby Wagner. / Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Since entering the NFL in 2012, Bobby Wagner has annually solidified his status as the league's greatest linebacker. He's like a heat-seeking missile when tackling the ball carrier, while also possessing elite coverage skills. There's no way he'd ever show up on a team other than the Seattle Seahawks, right?

Well, Seahawks insider Jim Moore believes that the 2020 season could be Wagner's last in the Emerald City. If Seattle were to shop Wagner to the rest of the league by next offseason, the New York Giants need to be the first team on the phones to try and negotiate a deal.

The Giants haven't had a great linebacker since Antonio Pierce last suited up for Big Blue in 2009. Ever since, they've struck out on veteran middle linebackers, such as Jon Beason and Alec Ogletree. They had the chance to select Clemson's Isaiah Simmons in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, but understandably passed on him to select Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

There's no better option to fix New York's linebacking corps than Wagner.

As for Seattle, they're going to be seriously strapped for cash for the foreseeable future. Quarterback Russell Wilson had to be locked in, but it comes at the expense of cap space. When looking at Wagner's deal, his cap hit increases over the next three years, starting at $14.8 million in 2020 and ending in 2022 with a huge $20.4 million hit. Oh, and the Seahawks have Wagner's hypothetical replacement in Texas Tech's Jordyn Brooks, whom they selected in the first round of the draft last month.

There could be no better trade partner for the Seahawks than the Giants, but they won't receive a premier return in terms of draft capital, due to Wagner's big contract extension. All things considered, if they dare to make the move, we're sure they'd be more than willing to take New York's second- and fifth-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to finalize a deal.

If Giants head coach Joe Judge is serious about creating a smash mouth football team, he should implore Dave Gettleman (or whoever the general manager is at the time) to find a way to bring Wagner to New York.