NFCE Blog: History of Redskins Draft Picks

[Lanky Livingston]

Kind of an exercise in futility, but fun nonetheless. And I think honorary_hog would disagree about HOFers drafted at pick #173.

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So I have this idea, since everybody loves draft talk and speculation so much, to go through each team's picks and the history of players taken at those spots. It doesn't mean much, since there's no way to know if the guy your team takes in the sixth round is going to become anything or not, but I thought it'd be fun, so I'm going to do it for each of our division's four teams. We'll go in first-round order, so we'll start with the Redskins, who have seven picks.

The Redskins have the No. 2 pick in the draft, which as you might expect has produced a number of great players, including 13 Hall of Famers. But in doing this exercise, I learned that the Redskins this year also have the pick (No. 102) that produced both Johnny Unitas and Nick Buoniconti. The Redskins' second pick in this year's draft is No. 69, which is noteworthy because the Redskins likely made the best No. 69 pick of all time when they drafted Hall of Famer Russ Grimm in 1981. Enjoy.

PICK 2 (second pick of first round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Von Miller, LB, Broncos

2010 -- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Lions

2009 -- Jason Smith, T, Rams

2008 -- Chris Long, DE, Rams

2007 -- Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

Redskins' history of No. 2 picks


2000 -- LaVar Arrington

1962 -- Norm Snead

1953 -- Jack Scarbath

Hall of Famers picked No. 2

Marshall Faulk (1994), Eric Dickerson (1983), Lawrence Taylor (1981), Tony Dorsett (1977), Randy White (1975), Tom Mack (1966), Joe Namath (1965, AFL), Bob Brown (1964), Merlin Olsen (1962), Les Richter (1952), Y.A. Tittle (1951), George McAfee (1940), Sid Luckman (1939)

Other notables

Reggie Bush (2006), Julius Peppers (2002), Ryan Leaf (1998), Tony Mandarich (1989), Cornelius Bennett (1987), Archie Manning (1971)

Last quarterback taken No. 2


1999 -- Donovan McNabb, Eagles

PICK 69 (sixth pick, third round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Rob Housler, TE, Cardinals

2010 -- Jared Veldheer, T, Raiders

2009 -- Jason Williams, LB, Cowboys

2008 -- Jacob Hester, FB, Chargers

2007 -- Buster Davis, LB, Cardinals

Redskins' history of No. 69 pick

1998 -- Skip Hicks

1981 -- Russ Grimm

Hall of Famers picked No. 69

Russ Grimm (1981), Jack Christiansen (1951)

PICK 102 (seventh pick, fourth round)

Last five players taken

2011 --Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns

2010 -- Darryl Sharpton, LB, Texans

2009 -- Donald Washington, DB, Chiefs

2008 -- Jeremy Thompson, DE, Packers

2007 -- Brian Robison, DE, Vikings

Redskins history of No. 102 pick

1996 -- Stephen Davis

1984 -- Jimmy Smith

Hall of Famers taken N0. 102

Nick Buoniconti (1962), Johnny Unitas (1955)

PICK 109 (14th pick, fourth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Colin McCarthy, LB, Titans

2010 -- Corey Wootton, DE, Bears

2009 -- T.J. Lang, T, Packers

2008 -- Mike McGlynn, G, Eagles

2007 -- Stephen Nicholas, LB, Falcons

Redskins history of No. 109 pick


2001 -- Sage Rosenfels

1990 -- Rico Labbe

1988 -- Jamie Morris

Hall of Famers taken No. 109

Don Maynard (1957)

PICK 141 (sixth pick, fifth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- D.J. Williams, TE, Packers

2010 -- Joshua Moore, DB, Bears

2009 -- Kenny McKinley, WR, Broncos

2008 -- Gary Barnidge, TE, Panthers

2007 -- Greg Peterson, DT, Buccaneers

Redskins history of No. 141 pick

1971 -- Conway Hayman

Hall of Famers taken No. 141

None

PICK 173 (third pick, sixth round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Byron Maxwell, DB, Seahawks

2010 -- Anthony Dixon, RB, 49ers

2009 -- Javon Ringer, RB, Titans

2008 -- Dominique Barber, S, Texans

2007 -- Michael Coe, CB, Colts

Redskins history of No. 173 pick

2006 -- Reed Doughty

1970 -- Roland Merritt

1969 -- John Didion

Hall of Famers picked No. 173

None

PICK 213 (sixth pick, seventh round)

Last five players taken

2011 -- Brandyn Thompson, DB, Redskins

2010 -- Willie Young, DE, Lions

2009 -- Paul Fanaika, G, Eagles

2008 --Chauncey Washington, RB Jaguars

2007 -- Chase Pittman, DE, Browns

Redskins history of No. 213 pick

2011 -- Brandyn Thompson

1986 -- Kurt Gouveia

Hall of Famers picked No. 213

None

Link

 

[Jimbo]

While it would be silly to try to read anything into this, it's pretty cool to see the past picks at these spots in the draft. Hoping our luck is closer to the HOF list than the bust list.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

fewer HOF players are drafted in the lower rounds? I could have sworn some guys on this board tried to argue that draft position didnt mean anything lol, I can accept the argument that picks mean nothing if we dont pick the right guys, but thats a bad caveat. I would rather pick earlier 10 out of 10 times especially with the new cap rules.

 

[Ax]

Personally, I'd rather have the 32nd pick of the 1st round for the next ten years.

 

[Jimbo]

Personally, I'd rather have the 32nd pick of the 1st round for the next ten years.

Unless, of course, there is expansion.

 

[Shi no Tenshi]

fewer HOF players are drafted in the lower rounds? I could have sworn some guys on this board tried to argue that draft position didnt mean anything lol, I can accept the argument that picks mean nothing if we dont pick the right guys, but thats a bad caveat.

Just from my observations of the various arguments you've been in about this topic, I would say they were saying draft position in the first round didn't matter as much in the scenarios they were describing. I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't find an argument with people saying that the round they were in is irrelevant.

 

[drumlinboy]

I looked back at our first round picks since Snyder took over

tbf we have hit alot more than we have missed.

Not aying we have been a great drafting team but we are not as bad as people think

Will find the link to what I wrote and post it later

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Just from my observations of the various arguments you've been in about this topic, I would say they were saying draft position in the first round didn't matter as much in the scenarios they were describing. I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't find an argument with people saying that the round they were in is irrelevant.

This. Of course the 4th round verse the 1st round matters, I haven't seen anyone argue that. The data is undeniable, you're more likely to pick a superstar in the 1st round than the 4th round. The argument has always been that pick 5 vs pick 10 in the first round doesn't matter, or even pick 25 verse pick 5.

Think anyone in front of the Packers would pass on Aaron Rodgers knowing what they know now? I doubt it.

 

[drumlinboy]

I posed this question on a UK site some time ago with a mixed bag of replies. I'll try here amost more knowligible people .

Certain teams have a reputation for being good drafters. But is this down to them having less holes to fill so they have not got the urgency to find starters that lesser teams have?

I'll give you an example, Take Jerod Mayo out the equation, when did the Pats last hit it big in the first round of the draft?

 

[CounterTrey]

I dunno, the Pats were pretty lousy at one stage and have never really built their roster via FA, they've always tweaked it with a few big signings from time to time mixed in with bargains. They've just been REALLY good at drafting mid level and trading down for extra picks from what I remember. They always seem to have a ton. They also aren't afraid to trade away or release a player once he's gotten too big for their budget and tend to acquire pics that way.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

This. Of course the 4th round verse the 1st round matters, I haven't seen anyone argue that. The data is undeniable, you're more likely to pick a superstar in the 1st round than the 4th round. The argument has always been that pick 5 vs pick 10 in the first round doesn't matter, or even pick 25 verse pick 5.

Think anyone in front of the Packers would pass on Aaron Rodgers knowing what they know now? I doubt it.

actually the argument was whether or not it would benefit a team to draft earlier or later.

of course nobody would pass on Rodgers as a matter of fact, he would be drafted number one knowing what we know, Om and Boone actually made a really valid point in another thread, with the Cap making busts less onerous, and the way that QB has pretty much become THE key, we will see more QB's drafted abover where they used to be because it costs less and because teams are starting to see the difference that QB makes in the modern game.

your argument is proven wrong by our actions in this very draft, the difference between the 6th pick and the second pick? 2 firsts and a second rounder to move up to #2. in other words, it matters very very much to have an earlier pick to get the player you want. and its only going to get more expensive.

 

[Neophyte]

Ryman, I think that price is only so steep because we are talking about a QB and because the drop off from the 2nd to 3rd best prospect at that position is so far. You don't see anyone trading 2 firsts and a second to move up for Richardson when he is clearly the only elite talent at the RB position. Shoot, he might be the best prospect at the position since AP.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

actually the argument was whether or not it would benefit a team to draft earlier or later.

...in the same round. You're repeating my arguments back to me again.

of course nobody would pass on Rodgers as a matter of fact, he would be drafted number one knowing what we know, Om and Boone actually made a really valid point in another thread, with the Cap making busts less onerous, and the way that QB has pretty much become THE key, we will see more QB's drafted abover where they used to be because it costs less and because teams are starting to see the difference that QB makes in the modern game.

Yes and no - Alex Smith still went first overall the year Rodgers went 24th. There's generally at least one QB taken in the top 3-5 picks every year; I think last time I looked there was only once or twice in the past 30 that it didn't happen. Someone will always reach on a QB.

your argument is proven wrong by our actions in this very draft, the difference between the 6th pick and the second pick? 2 firsts and a second rounder to move up to #2. in other words, it matters very very much to have an earlier pick to get the player you want. and its only going to get more expensive.

That is a different argument all together - the Redskins want a specific player, not a superstar (via BPA). Our argument is that you're just as likely to get a superstar drafting at 2, 6, 10, 24. I'm pretty sure if Griffin plays as well as Aaron Rodgers has, we'll all be happy.