Bobby Wagner agrees to $54 million contract extension with Seahawks

Bobby Wagner did not want to be a distraction for the Seattle Seahawks in training camp, and it looks like he won’t be.

Wagner and the Seahawks have agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday. Rapoport says the deal includes $40.2 million guaranteed.

Wagner was entering the final season of a four-year, $43 million deal he signed in August 2015. He is the leader of the team’s defense and still only 29, so adding a few years onto his current deal made sense for both sides. Plus, now at $18 million per season, Wagner will be compensated according to his status as one of the best defensive players in the league.

Wagner had 138 tackles, a sack, an interception returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defended last season. While Seattle let Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas leave in recent years, Wagner is the player they are choosing to retain. His age and strong play help explain why they chose to invest in him.