They landed a future Hall of Famer, which was good. They’ve also traded up for a Heisman Trophy winner who turned into a bust. So, too, was a supposed franchise quarterback. That, of course, was bad. And a few others fall somewhere in between.
When it comes to the Redskins picking in the top 10, their record is decidedly mixed. And their recent selections have yet to make the desired impact.
Here’s a look at their last eight top-10 picks, dating to 1992:
Good
In 1999, the Redskins selected a future Hall of Famer in corner Champ Bailey, after some draft-day maneuvering landed themanother first-round pick in 2000. Alas, it was another front office running the show in ’99 and the current management team upset Bailey enough that he wanted out.
A year later, the Redskins drafted linebacker LaVar Arrington (second) and Chris Samuels (third). Though Arrington’s tenure ended poorly, he did make three Pro Bowls and was the face of the franchise. Samuels has become a mainstay and has reached four Pro Bowls. He should be solid for several more years.
Bad
In 1992, coach Joe Gibbs wanted receiver Desmond Howard. So the defending Super Bowl champions traded up to get him with the fourth pick only to regret it during his first training camp. It was immediately evident to teammates that he couldn’t play. They were right and he ended his three-year Redskins career with 66 catches and five touchdowns.
Two clunkers followed in 1994 and ’95 when the Redskins drafted quarterback Heath Shuler (third) and receiver Michael Westbrook (fourth), respectively. Shuler spent three seasons here, finishing with 13 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. By comparison to Shuler, Westbrook was a gem with 240 receptions. And he wasn’t really bad as much as he underachieved.
Still waiting
Sean Taylor and Carlos Rogers could form half of a nice defensive backfield tandem for the next 10 years. Or they’ll become a frustrating combination because of too many lapses.
Taylor, the fifth pick in 2004, can be intimidating, but receivers haven’t shied from running past him. He’s made few big plays (seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles), though he is a big hitter.
Rogers, the ninth pick in 2005, has started 20 games, but he’s not ready to be their top corner. He was more consistent as a rookie against the run as a rookie and also seemed to cover better. He, too, has talent but is not close to being an elite corner.
Top 10 List
» Because of trades, as well as team success, the Redskins did not draft in the top 10 between 1966-1992. They selected kicker Charlie Gogolak with the eighth overall pick in ’66. They traded their first-round pick 20 times during this stretch.
» The buzz around the NFL has long been that Washington wants to move up to draft receiver Calvin Johnson. To do so, Redskins likely would have to surrender next year’s No. 1 pick and possibly more (perhaps a player), depending on who else is attempting to move up. Cleveland and Tampa Bay are potential trade targets. However, one NFL draft expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he thinks coach Joe Gibbs is warming to the idea of landing more picks, which would mean trading down.
