Tag: 2012 NFL Draft

2020 NFL Draft do-over: Bears find heir apparent to LB Brian Urlacher

If the Bears could have a do-over in the 2012 NFL Draft, they should’ve selected the heir-apparent to Brian Urlacher: ILB Bobby Wagner.

There’s a certain dark humor when it comes to NFL Draft do-overs. While it provides clarity years later — showing you what could’ve been a perfect fit for your team. It also reminds you that, unfortunately, your team made the wrong decision. A decision that cannot be undone.

NFL.com’s newest NFL Draft do-over comes from 2012, where the Bears were coming off an unimpressive 8-8 season in 2011 just one year after making it to the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

With the No. 19 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Boise State defensive end Shaw McClellin.

If the Bears could have a do-over, NFL.com believes they should’ve selected the heir-apparent to Brian Urlacher: Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Original pick: Shea McClellin, DE.
Wagner was actually drafted by: the Seahawks in Round 2 (No. 47).

McClellin never found his niche in Chicago before leaving for New England. So here, the Bears instead go with Wagner, who becomes the heir apparent to Brian Urlacher.

Wagner is arguably the best inside linebacker in the game today. In his eight-year career with the Seahawks, Wagner is a five-time first-team All Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and his impact on Seattle’s defense has been profound.

McClellin, on the other hand, was just an average defender for the Bears before he moved on with the Patriots. In his five-year career, McClellin had 202 tackles, 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

While McClellin became another failed first-round draft pick by the Bears, Wagner became an ultimate second-round steal for the Seahawks who’s stamped his ticket for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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If Vikings could do it again, who would they take in 2012 NFL draft?

In a draft do-over, the Vikings take a player who is actually currently on the team’s roster.

With the fourth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Vikings took tackle Matt Kalil.

While Kalil made a Pro Bowl in his rookie season, it was all downhill after that and many Vikings fans were happy when he left to sign with the Panthers in 2017 (Kalil hasn’t appeared in a game since).

If the Vikings could do it all over again in 2012, who would they draft?

Gil Brandt from NFL.com did a draft do-over and has the Vikings taking another tackle, Riley Reiff, with the fourth pick. Ironically, Reiff is currently a member of the Vikings.

Reiff has never made a Pro Bowl, but he’s been a solid player in this league for a long time, and is dependable as well. In eight seasons, he’s missed just eight games to injury. He’s been with the Vikings since 2017 after signing as a free agent.

Spoiler alert if you check out the article (which you should): running back Trent Richardson doesn’t go third overall.

Colts wanted to draft both Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson in 2012

If Indy had its way, they would have two elite QBs on the roster.

Even after selecting quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts were planing on also taking Russell Wilson later in the draft.

Of course, the Colts never got the chance as Wilson was scooped up by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round. But Colts owner Jim Irsay said the plan in 2012 was to take both quarterbacks.

Having Luck and Wilson in the same quarterback room would have been ridiculous, even if both players were rookies at the time.

Colts fans know just how good Luck was up until his retirement before the 2019 season. What could have been will always stay in their minds had the team actually tried to build around him and give him protection.

But when he was on the field, Luck was a borderline elite quarterback.

The same goes for Wilson, who has been the franchise quarterback for the Seahawks since 2012. He has been a seven-time Pro Bowler while also leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory during the 2013 season.

What would have happened if the Colts had two elite quarterbacks on the roster is something that will always remain a mystery, but the plan was certainly there.

Bobby Wagner reacts to linebacker Luke Kuechly’s early retirement

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner posted a heartfelt tweet to Carolina’s Luke Kuechly, who announced his retirement on Twitter.

Since joining the league together in 2012, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly have been compared to each other – and it’s not hard to see why.

Kuechly joined the Panthers as the ninth overall pick and immediately went to work as an elite middle linebacker, ultimately making seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro nods in his illustrious career, which came to an end on Tuesday when he announced in an emotional Twitter video that he was retiring.

Kuechly was widely considered among the top two linebackers in the NFL during his career, often alongside Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who has made six Pro Bowl appearances and is a five-time All-Pro, beginning his career the same season after getting selected by Seattle 38 picks later in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Wagner delivered a heartfelt message on Twitter to Kuechly, saying “The game is losing a great one.”

While fans may be happy no more Kuechly vs. Wagner debates can rage on in future seasons, the league is losing one of it’s finest middle linebackers, and it’s another reminder how much of a physical, and mental, toll this game takes on these players.

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Russell Wilson reunites with best friend in Robert Turbin

The Seattle Seahawks brought back Russell Wilson’s best friend, Robert Turbin, who originally joined the team in the 2012 draft class.

The Seattle Seahawks brought back a pair of familiar faces this week, signing former running backs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin to replace Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise.

While Lynch’s return has garnered the most attention, understandably, Turbin’s reputation as a strong blocker and receiver out of the backfield will make him an appealing replacement for Prosise as the team’s no. 3 back.

More than that, Turbin is a strong locker room presence as a six-year NFL veteran, and his return is a chance to reunite quarterback Russell Wilson with his best friend.

“He was in my wedding,” Wilson said on Thursday. “A guy that I’ve been super close to ever since day one.”

Turbin and Wilson both came to Seattle in their incredible 2012 NFL Draft class, joined by Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin and J.R. Sweezy.

Wilson went in the third round, with Turbin following a round later and joining Wagner as picks out of Utah State. However, despite the relationship with Wagner, Turbin and Wilson took to each other right away.

“I’ll never forget when we had the rookie symposium,” Wilson continued. “It was the first time all of us Seahawks being together and everything. I walked into my hotel room and there was Robert Turbin. He was my roommate. I remember us sitting there listening to oldies and just jamming out and having fun. Talking life, getting to know each other and everything else. Fast forward, we went to the event and everything those couple days or whatever it was. I remember us going to Canton, being in Canton and going to the Hall of Fame and walking around and talking about where we wanted to go and how we wanted to get there. Every day, we’ve always supported each other.”

The two remained teammates from 2012-2014, before Turbin was claimed off waivers by the Browns in September of 2015.

Turbin bounced around in 2015 before spending three years with Indianapolis, where he last played in October of 2018.

While Turbin’s career has not gone quite according to plan, his relationship with Wilson was no doubt a key in his return to the Seahawks, and should help him contribute on game day.

“Our roads have been slightly different, but they’ve been the same,” Wilson said. “We’ve always supported each other and always been together, even when we’re apart. He’s one of my best friends in the world. A guy who works extremely hard. A guy who’s ready to play, excited to play. He’s a guy who’s tough as nails.”

Turbin may not be called upon to do much on Sunday, but his presence should have a positive impact on Wilson’s morale heading into the biggest (and final) game of the regular season.

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