The Seattle Seahawks secured the future of another one of their young defensive stars.
The team announced Thursday that weakside linebacker K.J. Wright has signed a four-year contract extension. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a source informed of the new deal, it is worth $27 million.
"In the offseason, we identified K.J. as one of our core players moving forward and aimed to keep him as a part of the Seahawks family for a long time," general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "The timing of this signing gives us the ability to keep as many of our core players together as we possibly can. Since Day One, K.J. has been a true professional in his daily approach and we are excited for K.J., his family and the 12s to keep him in the organization."
Wright has started 54 of 58 games over four years, emerging as one of the NFL's best coverage linebackers. He has also exhibited impressive closing speed in the run game and as a situational blitzer.
Drafted in the fourth round out of Mississippi State in 2011, Wright is emblematic of the Seahawks' extraordinary ability to identify high-caliber athletes and develop mid- and late-round draft picks into above average starters on a Super Bowl champion.
In the last nine months alone, Seattle has locked up Wright, star pass rusher Michael Bennett, All Pro safety Earl Thomas and All Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, the nucleus of the NFL's best defense.
Now that Wright is under contract for the foreseeable future, the Seahawks' next order of business will be negotiating lucrative new contracts for quarterback Russell Wilson and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews every Week 16 game and recaps the Jaguars' win over the Titans. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
