As 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson prepare to square off for the second time in their careers (Kaepernick was a backup when the teams played the first time last season), an interesting report has emerged regarding the possibility that either of them could be playing for the Eagles.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the 49ers nearly traded Kaepernick to the Eagles for a second-round pick prior to the 2012 draft. Because Alex Smith had a strong year in 2011, after Kaepernick had been drafted, the 49ers reportedly were willing to move him. Schefter says the Eagles backed out because they believed they could get Wilson — a player “whom they geared their whole draft around.”
The Seahawks intervened, picking Wilson 13 spots before the Eagles were on the clock in round three.
If that’s accurate, the Eagles should have used one of their two second-round picks on Wilson, who either would have beaten out Mike Vick in the preseason or seized the job after Vick suffered a concussion in the regular season, possibly in the process saving the job of Andy Reid.
Reid reportedly also wanted to trade for Alex Smith multiple times during Reid’s time in Philly. Now, they’re both together in Kansas City, and they’ll play the Eagles in four days.