Can Tyrel Dodson replace Bobby Wagner?

The Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than a month, officially kicking off the first season under new coach Mike Macdonald.

In anticipation of the upcoming new season, we’ll be breaking down every member of the Seahawks’ 90-man roster over the next few weeks, diving into fit patterns, exploring best- and worst-case scenarios, and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2024 campaign.

Signed for a one-year contract by Seattle in March, will Tyrel Dodson be ready to replace a franchise icon at middle linebacker?

A four-star recruit out of Centennial High School in Tennessee, Dodson chose to commit to Texas A&M over several other SEC schools, including Arkansas and Missouri. As a true freshman, he had 27 combined tackles as a backup, setting the stage for a standout sophomore season with 105 tackles and a team-best 5.5 sacks. After a standout junior season, he declared for the NFL Draft, but went undrafted and signed with the Bills. Due to a domestic violence incident, he was suspended for six games and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad. After starting just five games from 2020-22, an injury to Matt Milano thrust him into Buffalo’s starting lineup last season, and he had a career-high 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in 10 starts. To reward him for his efforts, Seattle signed him early in free agency to help fill the void left by the departures of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks.

An aggressive, downhill player at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Dodson has played the vast majority of his defensive snaps in the NFL at middle linebacker, though he has seen limited action rushing the edge to take advantage of his pass-rushing ability. In 2022, on just 14 blitzes, he produced seven pressures and one sack, and last season he generated 11 pressures and 2.5 sacks on 41 blitz attempts, proving he is adept at getting to the quarterback.

Returning from a minor injury that cost him all of his OTAs and eager to earn a long-term contract, Dodson hit the ground running in his first full-time starting opportunity, immediately playing a vital role in Seattle’s massive improvements defending the run while totaling over 120 tackles and 11 tackles for loss, along with 4.5 sacks at middle linebacker.

Showing his general lack of experience, Dodson struggled early in the regular season, particularly in coverage where opposing coordinators frequently tackled him with intermediate center routes. Unable to show the necessary progress, rookie Tyrice Knight replaced him midseason and the veteran’s future with the team became uncertain at best.

When Dodson got his chance to play in Buffalo, he was a sensation up the middle, showing a knack for crushing running backs in the run game and being a highly effective blitzer. That said, the Bills often moved him out of the lineup on third downs and passing situations last year in favor of an extra defensive back, raising questions about how he will perform if he’s asked to take on middle linebacker duties on every down for the Seahawks.

Looking at Seattle’s current linebacking corps, assuming Dodson is fully recovered from the undisclosed injury that sidelined him all spring, there should be no reason why he could not start the season at middle linebacker. If he can keep the momentum he showed after playing well in nearly a dozen starts last year, his impactful presence and physical mentality should make him a solid addition, even if he’s not the second coming of Wagner. But given the potential coverage issues, he may have to keep his eyes on the back of his head, as Knight could move closer to him as the season progresses if he’s not in top form.

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