The 2020 NFL draft is coming up, and amidst all the mock drafts, the speculation about trades, and the discussion about the virtual nature of this year’s event comes some historical perspective.
Robert Mays of The Ringer decided to rank the 32 most valuable draft picks in the past 20 years – and the Seattle Seahawks had three of their selections crack the list, all within the top-14.
Coming in at No. 14 is Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was taken 47th overall in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Wagner has been an All-Pro first or second teamer in each of the past six seasons, and has cemented himself among the best linebackers of his generation. At age 29 and under contract through 2022, Wagner could easily complete a Hall of Fame career all in the Emerald City – and anytime you can get a player like that outside the first round you will take it.
No. 7 on the list is cornerback Richard Sherman, who Seattle selected in the fifth round, No. 154 overall, in the 2011 draft.
“Ten (!) defensive players from that draft have been voted first-team All Pro at least once,” Mays wrote. “The average draft position of the other nine was around 19th overall. That means that the gap in value between Sherman and the average All-Pro defender from the 2011 class equals out to about the 27th pick in the draft. So you could pick one of those guys at random—or you could have Richard Sherman and another first-round pick.”
Finally, the second most valuable draft selection of the last 20 years goes to Russell Wilson, who was taken 76th overall in 2012.
“Since Joe Montana, no quarterback drafted in the third round or later has made the Hall of Fame,” Mays wrote. “If Wilson continues on his current trajectory, he and [Tom] Brady will be the first ones to do it.”
Amazingly, one could argue the Seahawks could have had even more players on this list, including Kam Chancellor (133rd overall in 2010) or K.J. Wright (99th overall in 2010) who also returned amazing value for their draft slot.
John Schneider will look to work his magic again this week, with the 2020 virtual NFL draft set to begin on Thursday, April 23.
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