Carolina Panthers: 2012 NFL Draft do-over (6 rounds)
By Josh Linares
87. Scouting Report. LB. UTAH STATE. player. Pick Analysis. BOBBYWAGNER. 40
Carolina Panthers 2012 Draft Pick No. 40: Bobby Wagner over Amini Silatolu
With the 40th pick in the draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Midwestern State offensive lineman Amini Silatolu. Division two players rarely get selected this high. In fact, it is the highest anyone with this background has been taken since 1996 when the Philadelphia Eagles chose Jermane Mayberry in the first round.
Silatolu started 15 games for the Panthers at the left guard position. He played well in his first season on his way to an All-Rookie First Team selection. And he looked to be Carolina’s future guard.
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In 2013 Silatolu suffered a torn right ACL and missed the rest of the season. And he then tore his left ACL in 2015. Having two torn ACLs is a very tough situation to come back from and the player was never able to.
Silatolu played two more seasons with the Panthers but only started three games. He hasn’t been on a roster sine 2018. Even though he had a solid rookie year, Carolina should’ve passed on him and taken a linebacker to go along with Luke Kuechly.
Bobby Wagner was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 47th overall pick. He quickly proved to be worth the selection and was one of the best young defensive talents in the league.
Wagner had 140 tackles and three interceptions in his debut season. His play is very similar to Kuechly in the sense that they both put up great numbers and seem to be in on every tackle. He has never had a season with less than 100 tackles and they both have been very dominant in their careers.
From 2013 to this past season, Wagner has totaled 935 tackles, seven interceptions, 17.5 sacks, and 49 tackles for loss. He has made six straight Pro Bowls since 2014 and has made five First Team All Pros including four straight since 2016.
Wagner has been the leader of the Seahawks defense and is easily the best linebacker in football with Kuechly retired. If the Panthers would have passed on Silatolu and selected Wagner instead, They would have had the best two linebackers in football for almost a decade. Who knows how good that defense would have become.