Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner was voted the top player at his position in the NFL by league personnel and players, according to ESPN.
Genna Martin/seattlepi.com
The consensus appears to be that Bobby Wagner is the best linebacker in the NFL.
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ESPN this month has been rolling out rankings of the best players in the league at every position — based on input from more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players. The Seattle Seahawks star and defensive leader, a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro selection, was ranked No. 1 on the linebacker’s list, and didn’t receive a vote lower than third among players at his position.
The linebacker’s list accounts for the league’s inside linebackers and outside backers in 4-3 defensive schemes, as well as hybrids.
“I know he’s old and been around, but the guy has just got great instincts to go with speed, and when you have that, you can dominate,” an AFC executive told ESPN of Wagner.
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Some NFL observers have argued that Wagner may have lost a step in 2019, but he’s still widely recognized as a tier-1 level player at his position. He led the league last season with 159 tackles, his highest total since 2016, when he posted 167 (and also led the NFL).
Wagner is the first player in Seahawks’ history to be named a first-team All Pro five times. He’s received the honor each year since 2016, and earned his first All Pro nod in 2014.
Seahawks legend Kenny Easley told SeattlePI last year that Wagner is a Hall of Fame player “right now.”
“Damn good player,” an NFC scout said of Wagner in the ESPN story. “That’s all there is to say.”
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After Wagner, the linebacker rankings went as follows: Lavonte David (Bucs), Eric Kendricks (Vikings), Darius Leonard (Colts), Demario Davis (Saints) Deion Jones (Falcons), Tremaine Edmunds (Bills), Jamie Collins Sr. (Lions), C.J. Mosley (Jets) and Fred Warner (49ers).
In ESPN’s quarterback version of the top 10, the Seahawks’ Wilson was rated No. 2 behind the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.
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Ben Arthur covers sports for SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.