Bobby Wagner is one of the best players of his generation, and while he’s now on the older side, he can still be a valuable part of a defense. Selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Wagner became arguably the most important player on the best defense of the 2010s. Sharing a field with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and several other legendary players, Wagner became a 10-time Pro Bowler, six-time First-Team All-Pro, one-time Super Bowl champion, and even earned an MVP vote in 2014.
That version of Bobby Wagner no longer exists, but he’s still an above-average linebacker. Starting and appearing in 17 games for the Washington Commanders last year, the Utah State product finished the season with 162 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, nine quarterback hits, two interceptions, 4.5 sacks, and a 78.6 PFF grade, the 10th-best mark in the league.
While he is still unsigned, a player like Bobby Wagner could help a contending team that could use more reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball. While the Commanders have yet to bring him back, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes he would be a fit with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“While Cincinnati’s championship window is largely tied to quarterback Joe Burrow and one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, a disappointing defense has played a large role in squandering playoff opportunities over the past two seasons,” Kay writes. “The Bengals ranked No. 31 in total defense and No. 30 in scoring defense in 2025, making the second consecutive year they’ve finished No. 25 or worse in both categories…The Bengals must become more consistent on that side of the ball, particularly in the middle of the field where Wagner still excels thanks to his ability to diagnose plays and shut down opposing ground games.”
Bobby Wagner Linked to Cincinnati Bengals
This fit makes all the sense in the world and would be a perfect destination for Bobby Wagner. Despite his age, Wagner can still play, and he’d probably like to spend his final years with a team that has a realistic shot of going on a deep playoff run. Cincinnati already has the offensive pieces for this, as Joe Burrow is a top-10 quarterback and the wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is second to none. However, the defense needs some work.
The Bengals had arguably the league’s worst defense over the past two seasons, and the complete ineptitude on that side of the ball kept a high-flying offense out of the playoffs. Cincinnati doesn’t need to be the 1985 Chicago Bears, but they need a base level of competence to make the most of Joe Burrow’s prime years. While they’ve added several impact defenders in the past few months, there’s room for one more.
Adding Bobby Wagner to the mix will only improve the Bengals defense. They don’t need to be an elite unit to win games with that offense, and adding Wagner to the mix will ensure they’re at least an average unit.
