How experts rated the Seattle draft class of 2012 or Why there's nothing more worthless than instant draft grades

[Sam Mills Fan]

While we all talk about how much we liked or didn't like this year's draft class as do the "experts", please check out this illuminating article about what the draft experts said about the Seattle draft class of 2012 which helped propel them to a Lombardi trophy in February:

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/experts-hated-the-seattle-seahawks-2012-nfl-draft-2012-12

 

 

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., the guy who invented the NFL Draft pundit business, gave the Seahawks a C-.

To be fair, he judges "the draft process" not "the players." Kiper wrote that the Seahawks could have drafted Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner later on, and that they didn't really need Russell Wilson since they already had Matt Flynn. All of that is probably true.

Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke gave them a C. He called the Irvin pick "spit take-inducing" and wrote, LB "Bobby Wagner (47) and RB Robert Turbin (106), both from Utah State, will help, and QB Russell Wilson (74) has a bright future, even if Seattle didn’t really need him. Everything else was … very … blah."

The NFL Network team of analysts gave them a C. Michael Lombardi criticized them, saying they took "a lot of chances."

Irvin, Wagner, Jeremy Lane, and Daye Howard are significant players on defense, Wilson has been a revelation, and running back Robert Turbin is #2 on the depth chart behind Marshawn Lynch.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/experts-hated-the-seattle-seahawks-2012-nfl-draft-2012-12#ixzz31QNKq0zN

 

More at the link.

[JawnyBlaze]

Well, Irvin was a helluva reach and a waste of a pick.  Wagner and Wilson have turned into good players though.

[Ruff]

That seems to be pretty accurate, lol. Wilson and Wagner have both been stellar. Irvin is sort of in wait and see, especially after his suspension. Turbin is an excellent change of pace back, but not a full time guy.

So, not far off?

[PandaPancake]

So another expert is wrong. What's your point?

[1989]

I'm with you.  Immediate draft grades are pointless.  Can't truly judge a draft until after 3 years.

[Keith Moons Liver]

Great. Another thread on this. They know immediate draft grades are pointless- but fans eat them up so they keep getting put out. Stop reading them and clicking their links if you hate them so much. It's just fun and meaningless speculation and opinion- there isn't much else to talk about NFL wise right now.

[Jangler]

Great. Another thread on this. They know immediate draft grades are pointless- but fans eat them up so they keep getting put out. Stop reading them and clicking their links if you hate them so much. It's just fun and meaningless speculation and opinion- there isn't much else to talk about NFL wise right now.

 

Sure there is...we can talk about how much Gettleman hates Cam.

[PandaPancake]

Sure there is...we can talk about how much Gettleman hates Cam.

I saw Gettleman tying Cam's shoelaces together before the 49ers game

Sent from my XT1080 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Gin and Juice]

Well, Irvin was a helluva reach and a waste of a pick. Wagner and Wilson have turned into good players though.

Irvin was a reach, but not a waste! Dude set the world on fire his rookie year as a situational pass rusher. When they kicked him to SAM then he had to relearn a whole new position

[8 0 5]

Yeah this is like grading free agent signings. Pointless and unpredictable.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Yep. But this also means we shouldn't post how great our Draft was too. 

[caatfan]

Here's Tony Pauline's (SI- I think they fired him) post draft opinion of the Russell Wilson selection. 

 

"Russell Wilson/QB/Seattle/Pick No. 75 -- The Seahawks made another questionable decision, tabbing Wilson in the third frame. Wilson is destined to sit behind newly-signed Matt Flynn and will struggle to see the field at any point over the next three years."

[gettlemanjack]

it's not like the 2012 Seattle draft class turned out to be mindblowing or anything:

#15 - LB Bruce Irvin (2 sacks, 40 tackles last year)

could have had:

RB Doug Martin (#31) - Pro Bowl

WR Alshon Jeffery (#45) - Pro Bowl

LB Lavonte David (#58) - First Team All-Pro

LB Vontaze Burfict (UDFA) - Pro Bowl, 2nd Team All-Pro

#47 - LB Bobby Wagner (5 sacks, 120 tackles last yr)

could have taken:

WR T. Y. Hilton (#92)

LB Lavonte David (#58) - First Team All-Pro

LB Vontaze Burfict (UDFA) - Pro Bowl, 2nd Team All-Pro

#75 - Russell Wilson

could have taken

QB Nick Foles (#88) - Pro Bowl

#106 - RB Robert Turbin (264 yds, 0 TD, 3.4 ypc last yr)

could have taken

RB Alfred Morris (#173) - Pro Bowl, 2nd team All-Pro

#114 - DT Jaye Howard (cut by Seattle, picked up by Chiefs)

#154 - LB Korey Toomer (has not played)

#172 - CB Jeremy Lane (25 tackles, 4 PDs last yr)

could have taken:

CB Alfonzo Dennard (#224) - 40 tackles, 8 PDs for Patriots last year

#181 - S Winston Guy (cut by Seahawks, picked up by Jags)

#225 - DT J.R. Sweezy - converted to starting RG (not popular with the fans, Seattle drafted two new OL to compete in the 2nd and 6th Rounds of this weekend's draft)

#232 - DE Greg Scruggs (6 tackles in 2012, missed 2013 with torn ACL)

[LinvilleGorge]

it's not like the 2012 Seattle draft class turned out to be mindblowing or anything:

#15 - LB Bruce Irvin (2 sacks, 40 tackles last year)

could have had:

RB Doug Martin (#31) - Pro Bowl

WR Alshon Jeffery (#45) - Pro Bowl

LB Lavonte David (#58) - First Team All-Pro

LB Vontaze Burfict (UDFA) - Pro Bowl, 2nd Team All-Pro

#47 - LB Bobby Wagner (5 sacks, 120 tackles last yr)

could have taken:

WR T. Y. Hilton (#92)

LB Lavonte David (#58) - First Team All-Pro

LB Vontaze Burfict (UDFA) - Pro Bowl, 2nd Team All-Pro

#75 - Russell Wilson

could have taken

QB Nick Foles (#88) - Pro Bowl

#106 - RB Robert Turbin (264 yds, 0 TD, 3.4 ypc last yr)

could have taken

RB Alfred Morris (#173) - Pro Bowl, 2nd team All-Pro

#114 - DT Jaye Howard (cut by Seattle, picked up by Chiefs)

#154 - LB Korey Toomer (has not played)

#172 - CB Jeremy Lane (25 tackles, 4 PDs last yr)

could have taken:

CB Alfonzo Dennard (#224) - 40 tackles, 8 PDs for Patriots last year

#181 - S Winston Guy (cut by Seahawks, picked up by Jags)

#225 - DT J.R. Sweezy - converted to starting RG (not popular with the fans, Seattle drafted two new OL to compete in the 2nd and 6th Rounds of this weekend's draft)

#232 - DE Greg Scruggs (6 tackles in 2012, missed 2013 with torn ACL)

They won the Super Bowl last year with several of those guys playing key roles. That's pretty much the only argument they need.