2012 Seattle Seahawks Among Best 21st-Century Draft Classes

"Here's an interesting draft where the Seahawks might have selected two Hall of Famers, but neither came in the first round," ESPN writes. "There's an interesting debate to be had about what quarterback Russell Wilson's late-career struggles in Denver -- and what he does in Pittsburgh this year will mean for his Hall of Fame case. But that doesn't change the fact the Seahawks got a signal-caller in the third round who made nine Pro Bowls for them in 10 years and led them to two Super Bowls, winning one. Second-round linebacker Bobby Wagner will likely make it to Canton; he has been a first-team All-Pro six times."

The only teams higher on this list are the 2008 Atlanta Falcons, 2004 Arizona Cardinals, 2004 San Diego Chargers, and 2006 New Orleans Saints.

Aside from finding diamonds in Wagner and Wilson on day two, the Seahawks also selected several other players who had successful careers in first-round pick Bruce Irvin, Robert Turbin, Jeremy Lane, and J.R. Sweezy, who spent two different stints with the team as a former defensive linemen who converted to guard and started in both Super Bowls.

Any draft classes that has the ability to immediately change the fortunes of a franchise overnight deserve to be on the list, and with the Seahawks nabbing two potential Hall of Fame players in Wilson and Wagner, the placement on the list is more than earned.

Had the team handed it off to Marshawn Lynch and won a second straight Super Bowl, it's possible that this Seahawks team ends up even higher on the list, but fifth still ain't too shabby.