Brock Huard expects K.J. Wright and the Seahawks to reunite for the 2021 season.
A major question surrounding the Seahawks this offseason has been whether or not the team will reunite with longtime linebacker K.J. Wright.
Wright, 32, had been the Seahawks’ longest-tenured player for a while as he’d been with the team since he was drafted in 2011. But after his two-year deal expired at the end of the 2020 season, Wright has remained unsigned despite being wildly productive the last two seasons.
The Seahawks currently have All-Pro Bobby Wagner and 2020 first-round pick Jordyn Brooks penned in at middle linebacker and weakside linebacker, respectively, but the rest of that position group a bit of a question mark, especially after this most recent preseason game.
2020 second-round pick Darrell Taylor, who was drafted as a defensive end, is the favorite to start at the strongside linebacker position, which Wright played in 2020. 2019 third-round pick Cody Barton is also back and has experience at all three linebacker spots. But the Seahawks’ depth there took a bit of a hit as third-year linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven tore his ACL on the opening kickoff of Seattle’s second preseason game. Now, fullback/special teams captain Nick Bellore is expected to be the Seahawks’ fifth linebacker.
“I think K.J. has more than likely had some minimum offers on the table be it in Seattle or Vegas or others and he’s said, ‘Nah man. No. I was a top-100 player in this league and I had one of the most productive seasons of my NFL career last year. I transitioned and showed you positional flexibility. I was able to play some strongside and weakside (linebacker). I’m not playing for the minimum, get out of here,'” Huard said. “And I think he’s played a little chicken with the market and kind of stared at each other and now with Ben Burr-Kirven’s injury, that need has grown and more than likely there could be a few more bucks coming K.J. Wright’s way here in Seattle.”
Huard later added, “I think there’s going to be some movement over the next couple weeks and if that means a few more million bucks or a few more incentives for K.J. Wright to get in here, I think at this stage you have to make that move.”
Seems funny how many think it's a good idea to let KJ go because they have a rookie coming off a major injury and trying out a new position (Taylor at SAM), and only have Cody Barton as the depth if Brooks or Wagner get hurt.
Just a year ago, the Seahawks thought enough of KJ to keep him on the roster with a $10M cap hit. He then proceeded the have one of his best seasons which included playing at the SAM position.
Not making a serious offer for him (around $3.5M) could be a massive mistake.