Why coming to Seahawks was a ‘no-brainer’ for LB Tyrel Dodson

Nearly a decade ago, with all the “why not?” confidence of a high schooler, Tennessee teenager Tyrel Dodson slid into Bobby Wagner’s DMs. He’d watched Wagner’s film and “just loved” the way Wagner played and conducted himself. He told him so.

Wagner, then several years into his Seahawks career, took the time to reply to Dodson, thanking him for the compliments. Modern-day Dodson is assuming Wagner’s position at middle linebacker for the Seahawks.

“When I signed here I said (to him), ‘Isn’t that crazy? Everything’s full circle,’” Dodson said Saturday during Day 4 of Seahawks training camp at VMAC.

Starters Jordyn Brooks and Wagner himself, plus reserve Devin Bush, departed in free agency, meaning the Seahawks needed to revamp that position. Dodson and Jerome Baker are sliding in, both on one-year deals. Both missed OTAs and minicamp due to lingering injuries. They passed their physicals and reported for training camp last week.

“Trying to get my feet back under me,” Dodson said. “I feel good. It’s good to have ‘Bake’ out there with me too. Just trying to be two peas in a pod, figure out our relationship and everything else.”

While they missed Seattle’s offseason program, the newcomers made an effort to bond behind the scenes. Dodson slipped in among reporters during Baker’s news conference on Saturday.

“I have a question!” Dodson announced, but thought better of it and darted away.

They’ve already gotten their questions in during texts and Facetimes, trying to build a relationship and learn each other’s tendencies quickly since their roles are intertwined.

Both were members of the AFC East, so they certainly knew of each other already. Baker spent his six-year career in Miami before signing with the Seahawks in free agency and Dodson spent the past five years in Buffalo. Dodson signed with the Bills in 2019 after going undrafted out of Texas A&M. That same year the NFL suspended the rookie six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, assault and property damage related to accusations of domestic violence. He was later waived and Buffalo eventually re-signed him to the practice squad.

He took over at weakside linebacker and was a starter for the first time in his career last season due to an injury to Matt Milano. In 10 starts, he managed a career-best 74 combined tackles — eight for a loss — plus 2.5 sacks and two pass breakups.

“This makes me actually want to cry, because of everything that I put forward, coming in early and just waiting my turn,” Dodson said. “When you get your turn, you have to maximize your opportunity.”

He said he’s donned the green dot as the on-field defensive play caller before. That responsibility used to belong to Wagner, who signed a one-year deal with Washington. Time will tell who inherits it.

It also could be Baker, who is expected to take over for Brooks on the weak side. Baker was a starter most of his career thus far. He had wrist surgery after sustaining an injury in Week 18 last season. He also dealt with an MCL sprain. Baker was released by Miami in March with a failed physical designation.

Baker said he admired new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald’s Ravens defense and that was a big part of his choice to sign in Seattle.

“It was an easy choice to come here and have some fun with him,” Baker said.

“It was kind of a no-brainer.”

At the time, it was lightly theorized Baker would step into Wagner’s old role as the middle linebacker, but Macdonald appears to be doing things differently.

Baker and Dodson praised Macdonald’s smarts. The coach, meanwhile, said he’s pleased with both players’ poise.

“The communication’s farther along than you’d probably anticipate. Smooth,” Macdonald said. “There’s not a lot of panic. It’s not very physical right now. There’s some things we’re working on with that position, but pleased with the work we’ve gotten.”

There’s a lot of familiarity needed before they can replace two very familiar names. The pads go on Monday at VMAC.

“You never truly know how good you’re in shape until you put on the pads and start hitting guys, start taking guys to the ground,” Baker said. “Right now, I’d say it’s still touch football. The real day is when you put the pads on, go out there, and really play football.

“At the end of the day, it’s football. It’s the same game I played when I was six years old, just now it’s on a bigger stage.”