List of Washington Commanders first-round draft picks

Last updated

RG3 2014.jpg
Quarterback Robert Griffin III, 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year
Chase Young 2020.jpg
Defensive end Chase Young, 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Washington Commanders are a professional American football franchise based in the Washington metropolitan area. They are members of the East division in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Commanders were founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves, named after the local baseball franchise. [1] The franchise changed its name the following year to the Redskins and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937. [1] In 2020, the team retired the Redskins name after longstanding controversies surrounding it and briefly played as the Washington Football Team before becoming the Commanders in 2022. [1] Washington's first draft selection was Riley Smith, a blocking back from Alabama, in 1936. [2]

Contents

Washington have selected a draft's first overall pick twice: Harry Gilmer in 1948 and Ernie Davis in 1962. Five eventual Hall of Famers were selected by Washington in the first round: Champ Bailey, Sammy Baugh, Darrell Green, Art Monk, and Charley Taylor. [3] Three first-round picks by the team have been named NFL Rookie of the Year: halfback Charley Taylor in 1964, [4] [5] quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012 [6] and defensive end Chase Young in 2020. [7] Two Washington first-round draft picks have died during their active careers. The first was Davis, who was traded shortly after the selection to the Cleveland Browns for Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Jackson and died from leukemia before ever playing in an NFL game. [8] The other was Sean Taylor, who the team selected fifth overall in 2004 and was fatally shot at home while rehabbing from an injury in November 2007. [9]

Player selections

Pro Football Hall of Famer
List of Washington Commanders first-round draft picks
YearPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotesRefs
1936 2 Riley Smith FB Alabama [lower-alpha 1] [11]
1937 6 Sammy Baugh QB TCU [12]
1938 9 Andy Farkas FB Detroit [13]
1939 8 I. B. Hale T TCU [14]
1940 8 Ed Boell QB New York [15]
1941 10 Forest Evashevski QB Michigan [16]
1942 6 Spec Sanders RB Texas [17]
1943 10 Jack Jenkins FB Vanderbilt [18]
1944 8 Mike Micka FB Colgate [19]
1945 8 Jim Hardy QB USC [20]
1946 9 Cal Rossi RB UCLA [21]
1947 4Cal RossiRB UCLA [22]
1948 1 Harry Gilmer QB Alabama [lower-alpha 2] [23]
4 Lowell Tew FB Alabama
1949 8 Rob Goode RB Texas A&M [24]
1950 6 George Thomas RB Oklahoma [25]
1951 4 Leon Heath FB Oklahoma [26]
1952 7 Larry Isbell QB Baylor [27]
1953 3 Jack Scarbath QB Maryland [28]
1954 8 Steve Meilinger WR Kentucky [29]
1955 4 Ralph Guglielmi QB Notre Dame [30]
1956 12 Ed Vereb RB Maryland [31]
1957 9 Don Bosseler FB Miami (FL) [32]
1958 No Pick [lower-alpha 3] [33]
1959 4 Don Allard QB Boston College [34]
1960 4 Richie Lucas QB Penn State [lower-alpha 4] [35]
1961 2 Norm Snead QB Wake Forest [36]
3 Joe Rutgens DT Illinois
1962 1 Ernie Davis RB Syracuse [37]
1963 7 Pat Richter TE Wisconsin [38]
1964 3 Charley Taylor WR Arizona State [39]
1965 No Pick [lower-alpha 5] [40]
1966 6 Charlie Gogolak K Princeton [41]
1967 13 Ray McDonald RB Idaho [42]
1968 12 Jim Smith DB Oregon [43]
1969 No Pick [lower-alpha 6] [44]
1970 No Pick [lower-alpha 7] [45]
1971 No Pick [lower-alpha 8] [46]
1972 No Pick [lower-alpha 9] [47]
1973 No Pick [lower-alpha 10] [48]
1974 No Pick [lower-alpha 11] [49]
1975 No Pick [lower-alpha 12] [50]
1976 No Pick [lower-alpha 13] [51]
1977 No Pick [lower-alpha 14] [52]
1978 No Pick [lower-alpha 14] [53]
1979 No Pick [lower-alpha 15] [54]
1980 18 Art Monk WR Syracuse [55]
1981 20 Mark May T Pittsburgh [56]
1982 No Pick [lower-alpha 16] [57]
1983 28 Darrell Green CB Texas A&I [58]
1984 No Pick [lower-alpha 17]
1985 No Pick [lower-alpha 18]
1986 No Pick [lower-alpha 19]
1987 No Pick [lower-alpha 20]
1988 No Pick [lower-alpha 21]
1989 No Pick
1990 No Pick [lower-alpha 22]
1991 17 Bobby Wilson DT Michigan State [lower-alpha 23] [59]
1992 4 Desmond Howard WR Michigan [60]
1993 19 Tom Carter DB Notre Dame [61]
1994 3 Heath Shuler QB Tennessee [62]
1995 4 Michael Westbrook WR Colorado [63]
1996 30 Andre Johnson T Penn State [64]
1997 17 Kenard Lang DE Miami(FL) [65]
1998 No Pick [lower-alpha 24]
1999 7 Champ Bailey CB Georgia [66]
2000 2 LaVar Arrington LB Penn State [67]
3 Chris Samuels T Alabama
2001 15 Rod Gardner WR Clemson [68]
2002 32 Patrick Ramsey QB Tulane [69]
2003 No Pick [lower-alpha 25]
2004 5 Sean Taylor FS Miami(FL) [70]
2005 9 Carlos Rogers CB Auburn [71]
25 Jason Campbell QB Auburn
2006 No Pick [lower-alpha 26]
2007 6 LaRon Landry SS LSU [72]
2008 No Pick [lower-alpha 27]
2009 13 Brian Orakpo OLB Texas [73]
2010 4 Trent Williams T Oklahoma [74]
2011 16 Ryan Kerrigan OLB Purdue [75]
2012 2 Robert Griffin III QB Baylor [76]
2013 No Pick
2014 No Pick
2015 5 Brandon Scherff G Iowa [77]
2016 22 Josh Doctson WR TCU [78]
2017 17 Jonathan Allen DT Alabama [79]
2018 13 Daron Payne DT Alabama [80]
2019 15 Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State [81]
26 Montez Sweat DE Mississippi State
2020 2 Chase Young DE Ohio State [82]
2021 19 Jamin Davis LB Kentucky [83]
2022 16 Jahan Dotson WR Penn State [84]
2023 16 Emmanuel Forbes CB Mississippi State [85]
2024 2 Jayden Daniels QB LSU [86]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The first player ever selected in the NFL Draft, Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger in 1936, chose not to play in the NFL, thus making Smith the first drafted player to play. [10]
  2. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1948 was a lottery bonus pick.
  3. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1958 was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Rudy Bukich.
  4. ↑ Opted to sign with the Buffalo Bills of the newly formed American Football League
  5. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1965 was traded to the Chicago Bears for Angelo Coia and Fred Williams.
  6. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1969 was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for the rights to Gary Beban.
  7. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1970 was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1968 for Walt Rock.
  8. ↑ The Redskins' traded their first and third round picks in 1971, their fourth, fifth, and sixth round picks in 1972, and Marlin McKeever to the Los Angeles Rams for Maxie Baughan, Jack Pardee, Myron Pottios, Jeff Jordan, John Wilbur, and Diron Talbert, along with a fifth round pick in 1971.
  9. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1972 was traded to the New York Jets for Verlon Biggs.
  10. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1973 was traded to the Baltimore Colts, along with Cotton Speyrer, for Roy Jefferson and a ninth round pick in 1973 and 1974. The pick was then traded to the San Diego Chargers.
  11. ↑ The Los Angeles Rams traded Richie Petitbon to the Redskins for a 1973 sixth round pick, and their 1974 first round pick (revised from 1973 second round pick after Redskins learned they had previously traded 1973 second round pick). The Rams then traded the first round pick to the Chicago Bears.
  12. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1975, along with a second round pick in 1976, was traded to the San Diego Chargers for Duane Thomas.
  13. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1976 was traded to the Miami Dolphins for Joe Theismann.
  14. 1 2 The Redskins' first picks in 1977 and 1978 were traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, along with a second-round pick in 1979, for Dave Butz.
  15. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1979 was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for Lemar Parrish and Coy Bacon.
  16. ↑ The Los Angeles Rams traded their 1981 third round pick (#69-Russ Grimm), two 1981 fifth round picks (#117-Byron Braggs and #132-Gary Sayre), and a 1982 second round pick (#49-Vernon Dean) to the Redskins for their first pick in 1982.
  17. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1984 was traded to the New York Giants for a second-round pick and third-round pick.
  18. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1985 was traded to the New Orleans Saints for George Rogers, and fifth, tenth, and eleventh round picks in 1985.
  19. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1986 was traded to the Atlanta Falcons before the 1985 Draft, along with a second round pick in 1985, for a second round pick in 1985 and 1986.
  20. ↑ The San Francisco 49ers traded their 1986 second round pick (#45-Walter Murray) to the Redskins for a 1986 tenth round pick (#270-Harold Hallman) and their 1987 first round pick.
  21. ↑ The Redskins' first round picks in 1988 and 1989 were traded to the Chicago Bears, as compensation for Wilber Marshall.
  22. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1990 was traded to the Atlanta Falcons before the 1989 Draft, along with a second round pick in 1989, for Gerald Riggs.
  23. ↑ The Redskins acquired their first pick in 1991 from the Houston Oilers via the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys.
  24. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 1998 was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, along with a third-round pick in 1998, as compensation for Dan Wilkinson.
  25. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 2003 was traded to the New York Jets for Laveranues Coles. The pick was eventually traded to the New England Patriots.
  26. ↑ The Redskins' first pick in 2006 was traded to the San Francisco 49ers via the Denver Broncos. It was part of the 2005 Draft transaction between Washington and Denver. See citation above.
  27. ↑ The Atlanta Falcons traded two 2008 second round picks (#34-Devin Thomas and #48-Fred Davis), and a 2008 fourth round pick (which was then traded to the Tennessee Titans who drafted William Hayes) to the Redskins for their 2008 first round pick (21st overall–Sam Baker), a 2008 third round pick (#84-Harry Douglas), and a 2008 fifth round pick (#154-Kroy Biermann).

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References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 "Washington Commanders Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ "NFL Draft History: First Round by Team". NFL.com . Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Washington Commanders Team Greats". Pro Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Washington Back Named Top Rookie". Northern Virginia Sun . Library of Virginia. December 29, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ "AP Rookie of the Year Winners". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  6. ↑ "AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ "AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ "The Ernie I knew". Star-Gazette . Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  9. ↑ "American football: Redskins' Taylor dies after shooting". Associated Press. November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Pro Football Draft History: The 1930s". Pro Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved December 4, 2007.
  11. ↑ "1936 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  12. ↑ "1937 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ↑ "1938 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  14. ↑ "1939 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ↑ "1940 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ↑ "1941 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  17. ↑ "1942 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ↑ "1943 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  19. ↑ "1944 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  20. ↑ "1945 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  21. ↑ "1946 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  22. ↑ "1947 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ "1948 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  24. ↑ "1949 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  25. ↑ "1950 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  26. ↑ "1951 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  27. ↑ "1952 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  28. ↑ "1953 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  29. ↑ "1954 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  30. ↑ "1955 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  31. ↑ "1956 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  32. ↑ "1957 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  33. ↑ "1958 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  34. ↑ "1959 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  35. ↑ "1960 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  36. ↑ "1961 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  37. ↑ "1962 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  38. ↑ "1963 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  39. ↑ "1964 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  40. ↑ "1965 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  41. ↑ "1966 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  42. ↑ "1967 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  43. ↑ "1968 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  44. ↑ "1969 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  45. ↑ "1970 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  46. ↑ "1971 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  47. ↑ "1972 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  48. ↑ "1973 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  49. ↑ "1974 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  50. ↑ "1975 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  51. ↑ "1976 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  52. ↑ "1977 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  53. ↑ "1978 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  54. ↑ "1979 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  55. ↑ "1980 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  56. ↑ "1981 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  57. ↑ "1982 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  58. ↑ "1983 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  59. ↑ "1991 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  60. ↑ "1992 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  61. ↑ "1993 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  62. ↑ "1994 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  63. ↑ "1995 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  64. ↑ "1996 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  65. ↑ "1997 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  66. ↑ "1999 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  67. ↑ "2000 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  68. ↑ "2001 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  69. ↑ "2002 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  70. ↑ "2004 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  71. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  72. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  73. ↑ "2009 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  74. ↑ "2010 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  75. ↑ "2011 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  76. ↑ "2012 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  77. ↑ "2015 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  78. ↑ "2016 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  79. ↑ "2017 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  80. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  81. ↑ "2019 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  82. ↑ "2020 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  83. ↑ "2021 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  84. ↑ "2022 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  85. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  86. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved April 26, 2024.

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