Bobby Wagner
LB, Utah St. · 2012 NFL Draft, Round 2, pick #47 (SEA)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Signals in our data that pointed to him being undervalued: age, position, availability. Details below.
- Age
22 years old at the draft (nflverse).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 56.1% of the time (2,011 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
LB (LB group).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 56.8% of the time (701 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 219 of ~229 possible regular-season games from 2012 through 2025 (~96%).
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #84 (#4 at his position); he went #47, 37 spots earlier. So teams were actually higher on him than the media board was; everyone underrated him.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 48.9% of the time (896 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- School
Utah St.: not a Power-conference school (our conference list).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 50.5% of the time (1,426 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Combine
No NFL Combine invite on record (nflverse combine data), so teams had less verified testing on him.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 49% of the time (905 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
Every line comes from data: nflverse draft, combine and career data; ESPN's pre-draft ranks. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a steal for him.
Career numbers
| Games | 219 |
| Seasons as primary starter | 14 |
| Pro Bowls | 10 |
| First-team All-Pro | 6 |
| Career wAV (Pro Football Reference) | 129 |
| Defense | 1150 tackles, 39.5 sacks, 15 INT |
| Last NFL season | 2025 |
The 2012 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2012 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Age 22 | 56.1% n=2,011 | |
| Position LB | 56.8% n=701 | |
| Pre-draft rankings Taken 32+ picks before ESPN's rank | 48.9% n=896 | |
| School Non-Power school (Group of 5 / FCS / smaller) | 50.5% n=1,426 | |
| Combine No Combine invite | 49.0% n=905 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 6' 0", 241 lbs |
| Arm / hand | 32.4" / 9.7" |
| Age at draft | 22 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #84 overall (#4 LB) |
Picked around him 2012 redraft
| 44 | Jeff Allen | redraft #65 |
| 45 | Alshon Jeffery | redraft #33 |
| 46 | Mychal Kendricks | redraft #48 |
| 48 | Tavon Wilson | redraft #83 |
| 49 | Kendall Reyes | redraft #73 |
| 50 | Isaiah Pead | redraft #187 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 32+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.