The Redskins 1992 NFL Draft will forever stand as one of the most cautionary tales in franchise history. Washington entered that draft riding the highest of highs — fresh off their third Super Bowl title, Joe Gibbs still roaming the sidelines and Mark Rypien coming off one of the most accurate passing seasons the league had ever seen. What followed was a draft class that helped accelerate the end of a dynasty.
The Context: A Team on Top of the World
Life was very good in Washington in the spring of 1992. The Posse — Art Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders — was still intact and still dangerous. Rypien had just established himself as the premier deep ball passer in the league. General manager Charley Casserly had earned considerable respect, particularly after the emergence of Brian Mitchell silenced early doubters about his eye for talent. The Redskins, in short, were the envy of the NFL.
The Pick Everyone Wanted
When draft day arrived, one name dominated every conversation — Desmond Howard. The explosive wide receiver out of Michigan was the most coveted offensive player in the entire class. Washington traded up with Cincinnati to grab the fourth overall pick and selected Howard before anyone else could. The rest of the league was stunned. The reigning Super Bowl champions had just added the most dynamic playmaker available to an offense that was already terrifying.
It seemed like a stroke of genius.
Unfortunately, it was anything but.
Howard’s Washington Career: A Painful Reality
The warning signs emerged almost immediately. Under Gibbs, rookies waited their turn — sometimes for years. Howard caught just three passes in his entire rookie season. That alone was not a disaster. However, what followed was. Over three seasons in Washington, Howard totaled just 66 catches for 1,033 yards and five touchdowns. For a fourth overall pick on a Super Bowl champion, those numbers were genuinely alarming.
To put that in perspective, consider what four receivers drafted after Howard produced over the same three-year period. Carl Pickens, taken 31st overall by Cincinnati, caught 140 passes for 2,018 yards and 18 touchdowns. Courtney Hawkins, the 44th pick, had 119 catches for 1,707 yards and 12 touchdowns for Tampa Bay. Robert Brooks, a third-round pick at 62nd overall, outpaced Howard’s yardage total. Even Torrance Small — a fifth-round pick at 158th overall — produced more touchdowns than the man Washington traded up to select fourth.
Gibbs Retires, Howard Struggles
The situation deteriorated further when Gibbs retired after the 1992 season. Free agency arrived and dismantled the championship roster piece by piece. Howard, suddenly thrust into a larger role, could not deliver. When new coach Norv Turner took over, Jacksonville selected Howard in the expansion draft. He had complained Washington never gave him a fair shot. Given the opportunity in Jacksonville, he responded with 26 catches, 276 yards and one touchdown. The Jaguars cut him after one season.
The Rest of the Class Was Worse
As damaging as the Howard pick was, the remainder of the Redskins 1992 draft class was arguably even more damning. Shane Collins, Paul Siever, Chris Hakel, Ray Rowe, Calvin Holmes, Darryl Moore, Boone Powell, Tony Barker, Terry Smith — names that meant little then and even less now. Of eleven players drafted, only Collins, Howard and offensive lineman Matt Elliott remained in the NFL by any meaningful measure.
What Other Teams Were Doing
While Washington drafted anonymity, their rivals were building dynasties. Dallas selected Kevin Smith, Robert Jones and Darren Woodson. Green Bay added Edgar Bennett, Mark Chmura, Ty Detmer and Robert Brooks. Pittsburgh drafted Levon Kirkland, Leon Searcy, Joel Steed and Darren Perry. Indianapolis took Quentin Coryatt, Ashley Ambrose and Rodney Culver. Those four franchises combined to reach nine NFC or AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls in the years that followed. Washington managed just one playoff win in the same period.
The Lesson That Still Resonates
The Redskins 1992 NFL Draft is a masterclass in how quickly fortunes can turn in the NFL. One bad draft class doesn’t sink a franchise on its own. However, when a team at the top of the mountain fails to replenish its roster through the draft, the fall can be swift.
Final Thoughts
Washington fans don’t like remembering what the 1992 draft was like. It may be the moment the foundation quietly cracked beneath one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. The Redskins 1992 NFL Draft remains, decades later, a sobering reminder that in this league, no dynasty lasts forever — especially when the pipeline runs dry.
Redskins 1992 NFL Draft Selections
Rd, Pick, Player, College
1, 4, Desmond Howard, Michigan
2, 47, Shane Collins, Arizona St.
3, 74, Paul Siever, Penn St.
4, 112, Chris Hakel, William & Mary
6, 168, Ray Rowe, San Diego St.
7, 196, Calvin Holmes, USC
8, 224, Darryl Moore, Texas-El Paso
9, 252, Boone Powell, Texas
10, 280, Tony Barker, Rice
11, 308, Terry Smith, Penn St.
12, 336, Matt Elliott, Michigan