Russell Wilson completed a trade move to the Denver Broncos after 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson was a less regarded prospect at the time of his draft and the Seattle Seahawks picked him in Round 3 of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wilson has since featured in 9 Pro Bowls and even led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl victory. Let us take a look at the quarterback’s NFL Draft.
Russell Wilson Draft: Year, Date, Round and Pick Number
| Draft Year | Round | Pick Number | NFL Team | Position | College | Conference (College) |
| 2012 | 3 | 75 | Seattle Seahawks | Quarterback | University of Wisconsin | Big Ten |
Grading Russell Wilson’s NFL Draft
Russell Wilson has been one of the best drafts by the Seattle Seahawks and it was unexpected that the quarterback drafted in Round 3 of the draft would turn out so influential for the team. Wilson’s draft was originally graded ‘F’ by analysts and he has proven them grossly wrong. Wilson led the Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl victory and even helped them reach consecutive Super Bowls. Wilson is a top grade draft pick and one of the best quarterbacks who were initially underrated.
Russell Wilson Draft photo: How old was Russell Wilson when he went to the NFL?
Wilson was 23 when the was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft. Wilson initially attended three years of college at North Carolina State University where he played as the starting quarterback since his freshman year. He graduated from NC State with a B.A. in Communication. Wilson had one year of football scholarship eligibility remaining and he was granted a release so that he could transfer to the University of Wisconsin. At Wisconsin, Wilson finished the season with 33 passing touchdowns, which set the single-season record at the college.
Russell Wilson’s Draft Bio and Profile
NFL scouts perform detailed analyses of players who enter the NFL Draft. They create a report based on a player’s college performances and NFL Combine performance. These reports help a team understand whether a certain player fulfils their needs or not. Here is a summary of Russell Wilson’s NFL Draft profile:
| Russell Wilson | Quarterback, University of Wisconsin. 5 ft. 10 inches, 204 pounds |
| Summary | A very intelligent player who displays great arm strength and accuracy. Was a starter for Wisconsin ever since he joined. A dual-threat quarterback with great athletic capabilities. He is a great prospect but falls short of being a First Round prospect due to his height. |
| Positives | He possesses outstanding arm strength along with the ability to throw accurate passes. Intelligent player who makes great decisions on the field. A mechanical quarterback who is consistent in his drop step and movement within the pocket. A born signal-caller and an effective scrambler. Was the nation's most efficient quarterback in 2011, earning a 191.78 QB rating. |
| Negatives | His height is not fit for an ideal quarterback. The ability to throw deep throws against opponents of an elite level is yet to be seen. |
| NFL Combine Note | 40 Yard Dash: 4.55 seconds, Wonderlic: 28 (0-50), Three-Cone Drill: 6.97 seconds, Vertical Leap: 34 inches, Broad Jump: 9 feet 10 inches & 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.09 seconds |
How many quarterbacks were chosen before Russell Wilson?
Russell Wilson was a great prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft however, his height put him at a disadvantage of being a top pick. He was the sixth quarterback to be picked in the Draft. Wilson was pick number 75 in the 3rd Round. Here are the players who got drafted before Russell Wilson:
- Andrew Luck
He was the overall first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck was a player who helped put Stanford on the map for football. The Indianapolis Colts got a decent performance from the player. Luck had a tendency to get intercepted even though he led the league in touchdown passes in 2014. He retired prematurely after the 2018 season, citing injuries.
- Robert Griffin III
He was the overall number 2 pick of the 2012 NFL Draft and even won Rookie of the Year in his debut season. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) but failed to impress in the long run due to injuries. The gifted quarterback became a backup quarterback later in his career and retired in 2020 after a stint with the Baltimore Ravens. He is currently an NFL and college football analyst at ESPN.
- Ryan Tannehill
The Dolphins drafted Tannehill as overall pick number 8 in the First Round of the draft. He spent 7 seasons with the Dolphins before being traded to the Tennessee Titans. Tannehill had mediocre seasons as a Dolphins player but stepped up his game for the Titans where he continues to play.
- Brandon Weeden
Drafted in Round 1 by the Cleveland Browns, Weden never really made much of an impact in the league. He was traded to the Cowboys after two seasons, who then traded him to the Texans after two seasons. Weeden played one season for the Titans before ending his career with the Texans in 2019.
- Brock Osweiler
Osweiler was a backup to Peyton Manning when he was drafted in the 2nd Round by the Denver Broncos. Osweiler helped the Broncos win a Super Bowl as an active backup. Osweiler traded to the Texans in 2016, before joining the Browns the following year. He finished his career in 2019 after a stint with the Dolphins.
Who was the #1 Pick In The NFL When Russell Wilson Got Drafted?
Quarterback Andrew Luck was the number 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was considered a generational talent according to the NFL scouts. The four-time Pro-Bowler did indeed impress as a Colts player where he played for all of his NFL career. Luck retired in 2019 as he was affected by injuries throughout his career. He won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 after coming back from a serious shoulder injury.
Who was the Seahawks QB before Wilson?
Wilson traded to the Denver Broncos where he is expected to be the starting quarterback. However, when Wilson was drafted in 2012 by the Seattle Seahawks he replaced Tarvaris Jackson as the starting quarterback. Jackson played for the Seahawks only for one season prior to Wilson joining the team. As a Seahawks player, he completed 2091 passing yards and made 14 touchdown passes. He played a total of 15 games throughout the season and started in 14 of those games. He went to play for the Bills in 2012 before returning to the Seahawks as a backup to Russell Wilson in 2013. He retired in 2015 and became a quarterback coach. Jackson tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2020.
Who was the quarterback before Russell Wilson at Wisconsin?
Scott Tolzien was the starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers before Wilson transferred there from NC State. Tolzien declared for the NFL Draft in 2011 but remained undrafted. He played full seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers as a backup quarterback. He retired in 2017 and currently serves as the coaching assistant for the Dallas Cowboys.
