Experts believe Colts would select Russell Wilson over Andrew Luck in 2012 redraft
Recently, Adam Rank redrafted the 2012 NFL draft and had a surprising re-do by the Indianapolis Colts with the first pick.
We all know, in 2012, the Indianapolis Colts selected Andrew Luck over Robert Griffin III to replace Peyton Manning at quarterback. Well, Adam Rank from NFL.com decided that Luck should go second-overall to Washington instead because the Colts would have selected Russell Wilson from Wisconsin.
Words cannot express how absurd this belief is, even knowing that Luck retired two years ago and Wilson is still in the league. It’s important to remember that Luck was a generational quarterback who was selected to four Pro Bowls during his six seasons with Indianapolis.
Yes, Wilson has been selected to nine Pro Bowls in his 10-year career, that’s not lost anywhere. However, people often forget where the state of each team was in the 2012 NFL Draft.
We know that the Colts likely had an interest in Wilson this offseason, and could have gotten him if we really tried. Ultimately, they did not trade for him, though.
Seattle was built for success right away
In 2012, Seattle was built to succeed right away. It was believed that they were just a quarterback away from winning everything. The Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to be the starter but drafted Wilson in the third round to be a backup and learn the system.
During the offseason, Pete Carroll decided that Wilson would be the starting quarterback heading into the season. The Seahawks featured some top-tier talent that year.
Just two years prior, Seattle finished 7-9 and won the NFC West division, and upset the New Orleans Saints in the first round. One year before Wilson arrived, the Seahawks were 7-9 again but missed the postseason.
On this day in 2011, Marshawn Lynch took a handoff vs. the Saints and the ground shook.
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 8, 2020
The Beast Quake is forever legendary.
(via @nflthrowback)pic.twitter.com/mAf2BMsHKa
The 2012 Seahawks offense featured Marshawn Lynch, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, and two Pro Bowl offensive linemen. Not to mention, they also had the Legion of Boom on the other side of the ball.
This team was really a plug-and-play team that allowed Wilson to succeed right away. The Seahawks finished 11-5 in 2012 and won the Super Bowl in 2013.
The Colts were far away from success
Ryan Grigson looked like a hero in 2012 for drafting Luck, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, and T.Y. Hilton. Indianapolis, however, was nowhere near the success level as the Seahawks in 2012.
The team featured one of the worst offensive lines in the league and Luck was absolutely getting crushed his first couple of seasons, creating his injury problems.
Even with no offensive line and a weak defense, the Colts still managed to go 11-5, largely thanks to Luck’s ability to play football.
The Colts’ success during the Grigson/Pagano era was not because of the talent they brought in. It was solely because of Luck, and not the Irish kind of luck.
Had the Colts drafted any other quarterback in 2012, I do not believe they would have been able to jump right onto the team and succeed the way that Luck did in his time in the league.
Had Wilson been drafted, he would have dealt with the same injury issues and been out of the league without winning a Super Bowl.
