I'm not sure if Seattle is tanking this season, going into the season (apparently) with just Geno Smith and Drew Lock at quarterback. But an argument can be made that Seattle is definitely focused on the future rather than the present by their release of Bobby Wagner.

Seattle cut him, and the division-rival Rams happily snapped him up with what was reported as a 5-year, $50 million deal. Unlikely that Wagner plays out that contract; he's 32 years old. But a couple of years, at least, is reasonable. If his on-the-field performance has slipped, it's not readily apparent -- he still looks like one of the game's elite playmakers.

Tackles, for sure. Over the last six years, there have been 63 seasons where a player had at least 130 tackles. Wagner has done it all six seasons, including a career-high 170 (in 17 games, of course) last year. He's also been an All-Pro in five of those years.

But Wagner supplements those tackle numbers (which occasionally ordinary players in favorable situations can generate) with a lot of playmaking ability. He's also had 14 sacks in those years, and put 57 hits on quarterbacks. That includes four of the top eight seasons in that regard among the league's 130-tackle players. Guy can do it all, and remains one of the top-ranked IDPs, for those that use defensive players in lineups.

(Numbers were a little down in 2021 in that regard, for those who want to argue he's lost a step. But still, looks like a strong addition to the Rams Defense, and his absence leaves Seattle's defense weaker.)

Data from pro-football-reference.com was used in compiling the below table, which shows all of the league's 130-tackle players over the last six years, sorted by QB hits.

DEFENDERS WITH 130-PLUS TACKLES, 2016-PRESENT
YearPlayerTeamCombSkSoloAstCombQBHits
2016Bobby WagnerSEA1674.5858216718
2020Devin WhiteTAM1409.0974314016
2017Demario DavisNYJ1355.0973813515
2017Bobby WagnerSEA1331.5973613313
2020Bobby WagnerSEA1383.0815713811
2018Darius LeonardIND1637.0111521638
2016Zach BrownBUF1494.097521498
2018Bobby WagnerSEA1381.084541388
2021Foyesade OluokunATL1922.0102901927
2019Jordan HicksARI1501.593571507
2016Christian KirkseyCLE1482.596521487
2016Kwon AlexanderTAM1453.0108371457
2020Blake MartinezNYG1513.086651516
2021De'Vondre CampbellGNB1462.0102441466
2018Blake MartinezGNB1445.091531446
2017Joe SchobertCLE1443.087571446
2020Joe SchobertJAX1412.584571416
2020Roquan SmithCHI1394.098411396
2017Christian KirkseyCLE1383.586521386
2019Luke KuechlyCAR1440.081631445
2021Eric KendricksMIN1435.081621435
2019Cory LittletonLAR1343.578561345
2017C.J. MosleyBAL1321.096361325
2018Luke KuechlyCAR1302.093371305
2019Eric ReidCAR1304.097331305
2020Zach CunninghamHOU1643.0106581644
2021Roquan SmithCHI1633.095681634
2019Bobby WagnerSEA1593.086731594
2020Jaylon SmithDAL1541.589651544
2021Kyzir WhiteLAC1441.090541444
2021Deion JonesATL1372.087501374
2020Neville HewittNYJ1342.091431344
2019Joe SchobertCLE1332.089441334
2021Jordyn BrooksSEA1841.0109751843
2021Bobby WagnerSEA1701.093771703
2021C.J. MosleyNYJ1682.0103651683
2019Blake MartinezGNB1553.097581553
2021Denzel PerrymanLVR1540.0102521543
2019Zach CunninghamHOU1422.099431423
2019Jaylon SmithDAL1422.583591423
2016Preston BrownBUF1391.079601393
2021Fred WarnerSFO1370.579581373
2016Alec OgletreeLAR1360.098381363
2018Telvin SmithJAX1341.0100341343
2016Paul PoslusznyJAX1323.086461323
2019Budda BakerARI1470.5104431472
2016Sean LeeDAL1450.093521452
2017Preston BrownBUF1440.084601442
2017Blake MartinezGNB1441.096481442
2021Cole HolcombWAS1421.083591422
2021Alex SingletonPHI1370.081561372
2018Anthony HitchensKAN1350.081541352
2021Bobby OkerekeIND1321.089431322
2021T.J. EdwardsPHI1301.064661302
2018Leighton Vander EschDAL1400.0102381401
2019Todd DavisDEN1340.078561341
2016Zach OrrBAL1330.092411331
2019K.J. WrightSEA1320.067651321
2018Mason FosterWAS1311.081501311
2021Tae CrowderNYG1300.064661301
2017Deion JonesATL1381.091471380
2016Tahir WhiteheadDET1320.099331320

--Andy Richardson