List of Washington Commanders first-round draft picks explained

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 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 . In, the team retired the Redskins name after longstanding controversies surrounding it and briefly played as the Washington Football Team before becoming the Commanders in . Washington's first draft selection was Riley Smith, a blocking back from Alabama, in 1936.[2]

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

BBackKKickerNTNose tackle
CCenterLBLinebackerFBFullback
DBDefensive backPPunterHBHalfback
DEDefensive endQBQuarterbackWRWide receiver
DTDefensive tackleRBRunning backGGuard
EEndTOffensive tackleTETight end
Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
First-round draft picks
YearPickPlayer namePositionCollegeNotesRefs
19362Riley SmithFBAlabama[10]
19376Sammy BaughQBTCU[11]
19389Andy FarkasRBDetroit[12]
19398I. B. HaleTTCU[13]
19408Ed BoellQBNew York[14]
194110Forest EvashevskiQBMichigan[15]
19426Spec SandersRBTexas[16]
194310Jack JenkinsFBVanderbilt[17]
19448Mike MickaFBColgate[18]
19458Jim HardyQBUSC[19]
19469Cal RossiBUCLA[20]
19474Cal RossiBUCLA[21]
19481Harry GilmerRBAlabama[22]
4Lowell TewBAlabama
19498Rob GoodeBTexas A&M[23]
19506George ThomasBOklahoma[24]
19514Leon HeathFBOklahoma[25]
19527Larry IsbellBBaylor[26]
19533Jack ScarbathBMaryland[27]
19548Steve MeilingerEKentucky[28]
19554Ralph GuglielmiQBNotre Dame[29]
195612Ed VerebHBMaryland[30]
19579Don BosselerFBMiami(FL)[31]
1958No Pick[32]
19594Don AllardQBBoston College[33]
19604Richie LucasQBPenn State[34]
19612Norm SneadQBWake Forest[35]
3Joe RutgensTIllinois
19621Ernie DavisBSyracuse[36]
19637Pat RichterEWisconsin[37]
19643Charley TaylorHBArizona State[38]
1965No Pick[39]
19666Charlie GogolakKPrinceton[40]
196713Ray McDonaldRBIdaho[41]
196812Jim SmithDBOregon[42]
1969No Pick[43]
1970No Pick[44]
1971No Pick[45]
1972No Pick[46]
1973No Pick[47]
1974No Pick[48]
1975No Pick[49]
1976No Pick[50]
1977No Pick[51]
1978No Pick[52]
1979No Pick[53]
198018Art MonkWRSyracuse[54]
198120Mark MayTPittsburgh[55]
1982No Pick[56]
198328Darrell GreenCBTexas A&I[57]
1984No Pick
1985No Pick
1986No Pick
1987No Pick
1988No Pick
1989No Pick
1990No Pick
199117Bobby WilsonDTMichigan State[58]
19924Desmond HowardWRMichigan[59]
199319Tom CarterDBNotre Dame[60]
19943Heath ShulerQBTennessee[61]
19954Michael WestbrookWRColorado[62]
199630Andre JohnsonTPenn State[63]
199717Kenard LangDEMiami(FL)[64]
1998No Pick
19997Champ BaileyCBGeorgia[65]
20002LaVar ArringtonLBPenn State[66]
3Chris SamuelsTAlabama
200115Rod GardnerWRClemson[67]
200232Patrick RamseyQBTulane[68]
2003No Pick
20045Sean TaylorFSMiami(FL)[69]
20059Carlos RogersCBAuburn[70]
25Jason CampbellQBAuburn
2006No Pick
20076LaRon LandrySSLSU[71]
2008No Pick
200913Brian OrakpoLBTexas[72]
20104Trent WilliamsTOklahoma[73]
201116Ryan KerriganLBPurdue[74]
20122Robert Griffin IIIQBBaylor[75]
2013No Pick
2014No Pick
20155Brandon ScherffGIowa[76]
201622Josh DoctsonWRTCU[77]
201717Jonathan AllenDTAlabama[78]
201813Daron PayneDTAlabama[79]
201915Dwayne HaskinsQBOhio State[80]
26Montez SweatDEMississippi State
20202Chase YoungDEOhio State[81]
202119Jamin DavisLBKentucky[82]
202216Jahan DotsonWRPenn State[83]
202316Emmanuel ForbesCBMississippi State[84]
20242Jayden DanielsQBLSU[85]

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Washington Commanders Team History. Pro Football Hall of Fame. March 14, 2024. en.
  2. Web site: . NFL Draft History: First Round by Team . November 15, 2007.
  3. Web site: Washington Commanders Team Greats. Pro Football Hall of Fame. March 20, 2024. en.
  4. News: Washington Back Named Top Rookie. Library of Virginia. Northern Virginia Sun. December 29, 1964. 1. March 13, 2024.
  5. Web site: AP Rookie of the Year Winners. March 16, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  6. Web site: AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners. March 15, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  7. Web site: AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners. March 15, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  8. Web site: . The Ernie I knew . November 6, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071214131619/http://www.stargazettesports.com/ErnieDavis/ernie1.html . December 14, 2007 .
  9. News: American football: Redskins' Taylor dies after shooting . . November 27, 2007 . December 6, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520175827/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hDiQaCKctJga3VcwK7J8SSUZIKQA . May 20, 2011 .
  10. Web site: 1936 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  11. Web site: 1937 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  12. Web site: 1938 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  13. Web site: 1939 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  14. Web site: 1940 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  15. Web site: 1941 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  16. Web site: 1942 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  17. Web site: 1943 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  18. Web site: 1944 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  19. Web site: 1945 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  20. Web site: 1946 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  21. Web site: 1947 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  22. Web site: 1948 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  23. Web site: 1949 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  24. Web site: 1950 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  25. Web site: 1951 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  26. Web site: 1952 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  27. Web site: 1953 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  28. Web site: 1954 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  29. Web site: 1955 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  30. Web site: 1956 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  31. Web site: 1957 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  32. Web site: 1958 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  33. Web site: 1959 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  34. Web site: 1960 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  35. Web site: 1961 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  36. Web site: 1962 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  37. Web site: 1963 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  38. Web site: 1964 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  39. Web site: 1965 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  40. Web site: 1966 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  41. Web site: 1967 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  42. Web site: 1968 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  43. Web site: 1969 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  44. Web site: 1970 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  45. Web site: 1971 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  46. Web site: 1972 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  47. Web site: 1973 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  48. Web site: 1974 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  49. Web site: 1975 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  50. Web site: 1976 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  51. Web site: 1977 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  52. Web site: 1978 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  53. Web site: 1979 NFL Draft. March 27, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  54. Web site: 1980 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  55. Web site: 1981 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  56. Web site: 1982 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  57. Web site: 1983 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  58. Web site: 1991 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  59. Web site: 1992 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  60. Web site: 1993 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  61. Web site: 1994 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  62. Web site: 1995 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  63. Web site: 1996 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  64. Web site: 1997 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  65. Web site: 1999 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  66. Web site: 2000 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  67. Web site: 2001 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  68. Web site: 2002 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  69. Web site: 2004 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  70. Web site: 2005 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  71. Web site: 2007 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  72. Web site: 2009 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  73. Web site: 2010 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  74. Web site: 2011 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  75. Web site: 2012 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  76. Web site: 2015 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  77. Web site: 2016 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  78. Web site: 2017 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  79. Web site: 2018 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  80. Web site: 2019 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  81. Web site: 2020 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  82. Web site: 2021 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  83. Web site: 2022 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  84. Web site: 2023 NFL Draft. March 19, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.
  85. Web site: 2024 NFL Draft. April 26, 2024. Pro-Football-Reference.com. en.