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Six-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner has played the past two seasons for the Washington Commanders.

The future of star linebacker Bobby Wagner has been a major question mark for the Washington Commanders all offseason long.

Despite being one of the most productive free agents on the market, Wagner remains a free agent. With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, his market could heat up in the near future.

Fans have been hoping to see the Commanders find a way to bring him back. Washington is hoping to get back into contention in 2026 and Wagner would be a big part of reaching that goal if he is re-signed.

With that being said, the Commanders have been given a new prediction regarding Wagner’s future following the draft.

Commanders Land Brutal Bobby Wagner Prediction Following NFL Draft

CBS Sports analyst Bryan DeArdo came up with 10 moves that should be made across the NFL following the NFL Draft. One of those moves involved Wagner.

DeArdo believes and predicted that Wagner would end up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Yes, the Bengals were 6-11 last season, but that was because Joe Burrow missed more than half of the season with an injury and the Bengals’ defense was historically bad for most of the year,” DeArdo wrote.

“Burrow is healthy now, though, and the Bengals’ defense should be much better in 2026 with their recent additions on that side of the ball, which include three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.”

After making the aggressive trade with the New York Giants for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, the Bengals would be wise to go all-in on winning now. Wagner would make an awful lot of sense as an upgrade in the middle of their defense.

Losing Bobby Wagner Would Be a Tough Blow for Commanders

During the 2025 NFL season, Wagner continued playing at a superstar level. He was also a key leader for Washington’s defense.

In 17 games played, the 35-year-old linebacker racked up 162 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four defended passes.

The Commanders did take a big step for life after Wagner in the NFL Draft. They were able to land Ohio State standout Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick. Styles would help make losing Wager hurt a bit less.

Only time will tell what the next chapter of Wagner’s career will end up being. More than likely, there will be teams calling with interest in the near future. Whether or not Washington is still prioritizing bringing him back or not is unknown as well.

Expect to hear more updates on the longtime star linebacker in the near future. The Bengals are a team worth keeping an eye on as a threat to steal him away from the Commanders.