Commanders’ $118 Million All-Pro LB Called ‘Greatest Draft Pick’ of Last 25 Years

Wagner Surefire First Ballot Hall of Famer

Wagner is a lock to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, even though in terms of linebacker’s he’s turning into the NFL’s ageless wonder.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon put Wagner on his 21st Century NFL All-Star Team — one of two inside linebackers to make the team alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.

Wagner was the only active player on the defense for the 21st Century NFL All-Star Team.

The Commanders were a smart fit for Wagner, who reunited with head coach Dan Quinn after the two won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks when Quinn was defensive coordinator and Wagner was in his second NFL season.

Commanders Moved Quickly To Bring Back Wagner

Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti listed Wagner as the Commanders’ top free agent headed into the 2025 offseason after he played in 2024 on a 1-year, $7 million contract.

The Commanders didn’t waste time bringing back Wagner, and signed him to a 1-year, $9 million contract on March 6 — a full 4 days before other teams could have begun negotiating with Wagner.

Wagner has over 100 tackles in each of his 13 seasons and hasn’t missed more than one game in a season since 2014, when he had 104 tackles in 11 games. It was also the only season in which he finished in the Top 5 in NFL MVP voting.

“Now 34-years-old, Wagner is showing almost no sign of decline, filling up the stat board on a weekly basis (especially as it pertains to shutting down opposing run-games),” Ginnitti wrote on February 11. “A reunion with this fun, talented Commanders group makes a lot of sense, and a 1 year, $7M (incentive-laden) contract does too.”