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K.J. Wright inks $27M extension

RENTON, Wash. -- Linebacker K.J. Wright has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

The deal is reportedly worth $27 million.

"I'm just glad they chose for me to stick around. It's a blessing," Wright said. "There were times when I wondered if I would be here or not, but they told me they would find a way to make it happen and they did. I had a number in my head and they exceeded it."

Wright was the team's fourth-round draft choice (99th overall) in the 2011 NFL draft. He has started 54 of 58 games played and recorded 333 tackles (224 solo), 6.5 sacks, one interception, 14 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career.

"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 stated in a team release. "The timing of this signing gives us the ability to keep as many of our core players together as we possibly can. Since Day 1, 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."

In the postseason, he has started three of four games played, with 24 tackles (13 solo) and two passes defensed. Wright has started at all three linebacker spots for the Seahawks, but his best spot is weakside linebacker, where he now plays.

"K.J. is the epitome of a team guy," said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in the release. "We are excited to reward a player of his caliber for all the hard work he has put in over the years to become an important piece of our defense."