Holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts went with quarterback Andrew Luck, one of the best prospects to ever come out of college football.
But knowing what they know now with eight years of hindsight, would the Colts make the same decision? In the eyes of Bleacher Report, the outcome would have been much different.
Instead of taking Luck with the top overall pick, they go with the same position but a different name. In Bleacher Report’s re-draft, the Colts go with Russell Wilson.
What actually happened: Drafted QB Andrew Luck
Where he was actually picked: Third round by the Seahawks
Luck had a nice run for the Indianapolis Colts that included four Pro Bowl seasons, but Russell Wilson would be the obvious choice even if the Stanford product hadn’t abruptly retired last summer.
Injuries severely limited Luck’s impact later in his career, and he never made a Super Bowl during his time in Indy. Meanwhile, Wilson has won one Super Bowl and appeared in another as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler and one of just two qualified quarterbacks in NFL history with a triple-digit passer rating.
There’s a reason Wilson is the highest-paid player in league history in terms of average annual salary. He’s a highly accomplished champion with off-the-charts numbers who has never missed a start or posted a losing record in his eight-year career.
Smack dab in the middle of his prime, he’d be a top-three pick here even if every player in the NFL were available.
These are always interesting exercises. If Luck had a regime that actually believed in building around him, it might be a different story. His career was cut short following the cycle of injury, which took both a physical and mental toll.
It will always be one of the great “What Ifs” when it comes to Luck’s career and while there was always the debate as to who was the better quarterback, the Colts couldn’t have gone wrong in taking Luck.
It’s always an interesting debate to see which teams should have taken which players and in this scenario, the Colts went with Wilson.