Updated Feb 11, 2013 - 12:54 pm
Seahawks 2012 draft picks rated tops in new review
Looking back at the 2012 NFL Draft, it is easy to see why the Seahawks were 31 seconds away from playing in the NFC Championship Game this season.
Most experts originally felt it was a stretch when Seattle took quarterback Russell Wilson with its third round pick. As a rookie Wilson proved he was worthy of being selected 75th overall, and much more.
When Sports Illustrated's Don Banks did his annual re-draft, a reconstruction of the first round based on each rookie's performance this year, he had Wilson going to the Cleveland Browns as the 3rd overall pick in the first round. Banks essentially rated Wilson as the third best rookie in the NFL this season behind only Andrew Luck of the Colts and Robert Griffin III of Washington.
Wilson was not the only Seahawk to impress in his first year in the league, according to Banks. He also had linebacker Bobby Wagner at No. 9 overall and defensive end Bruce Irvin going to Seattle at No. 15, just as he did in the real draft last April.
Acquiring three of the best 15 players available is an extreme rarity, so the Seahawks' front office must have known what it was doing.
"I've done the redraft eight or nine years. I don't remember anything like that," Banks told 710 ESPN Seattle's Go 2 Guy Friday. "You look back, and you realize they (Seahawks) were kind of ahead of the curve. The top three picks all hit, not just a little, but hit dramatically big in Seattle this year."
Wilson's performance as a rookie solidified the Seahawks' draft class as the best in the league. Banks also said he would rather have Wilson than Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers as his quarterback, and gave Seattle a slight advantage over San Francisco in the division next season.
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hahanson wrote...three of the best 15 players available is an extreme rarityFebruary 11, 2013 1:10 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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LostLeader wrote...That's because the lazy east coastFebruary 11, 2013 2:32 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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O-man wrote...IndeedFebruary 11, 2013 2:46 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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str8jaz wrote...a complete joke!!!February 11, 2013 3:37 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Hawkin wrote...I betFebruary 11, 2013 10:23 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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MainEvent wrote...I want to knowFebruary 12, 2013 9:48 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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str8jaz wrote...Who cares about Mel Kiper???February 13, 2013 12:26 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Jim Moore has co-hosted "The Kevin Calabro Show" since 2009. He also co-hosts "The Northwest Golf Show" with Shon Crewe and writes weekly columns for 710Sports.com and for the Kitsap Sun. Jim spent 26 years as a reporter and columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he developed his nickname, "The Go 2 Guy."
Jessamyn McIntyre is the executive producer of 710 ESPN Seattle and has produced "The Kevin Calabro Show" since 2009. Previously, she spent four years at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. She freelances as a producer for ESPN Radio and ESPN TV and will be the sideline reporter for Washington State football games on 710 ESPN Seattle starting this fall.
