Commanders First Round Draft Picks
The Washington Commanders — formerly known as the Redskins — have a deep and complex history when it comes to the NFL Draft. This complete list of Commanders first round draft picks traces every top selection the team has made since the league’s first draft in 1936. From legendary Hall of Famers to high-risk prospects, explore how these picks have shaped the franchise through the decades.
Complete History of Commanders First Round Draft Picks
Washington have only held the number one overall pick twice. With those picks, they chose Harry Gilmer in 1948, and Ernie Davis in 1962.
Washington have selected number two overall six times – Riley Smith (1936), Norm Snead (1961), Lavar Arrington (2000), Robert Griffin III (2012), Chase Young (2020) and Jayden Daniels (2024).
They have also selected number three overall five times – Jack Scarbath (1953), Joe Rutgens (1961), Charley Taylor (1964), Heath Shuler (1994), and Chris Samuels (2000).
1930s – Early NFL Draft Era
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 2 | Riley Smith | FB | Alabama |
| 1937 | 6 | Sammy Baugh | QB | TCU |
| 1938 | 9 | Andy Farkas | RB | Detroit |
| 1939 | 8 | I. B. Hale | T | TCU |
1940s – War-Time Picks & Expansion
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 8 | Ed Boell | QB | New York |
| 1941 | 10 | Forest Evashevski | QB | Michigan |
| 1942 | 6 | Spec Sanders | RB | Texas |
| 1943 | 10 | Jack Jenkins | FB | Vanderbilt |
| 1944 | 8 | Mike Micka | FB | Colgate |
| 1945 | 8 | Jim Hardy | QB | Southern California |
| 1946 | 9 | Cal Rossi | B | UCLA |
| 1947 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1948 | 1 | Harry Gilmer | HB | Alabama |
| 1948 | 4 | Lowell Tew | B | Alabama |
| 1949 | 8 | Rob Goode | B | Texas A&M |
1950s – Post-War Draft Strategy
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6 | George Thomas | B | Oklahoma |
| 1951 | 4 | Leon Heath | FB | Oklahoma |
| 1952 | 7 | Larry Isbell | B | Baylor |
| 1953 | 3 | Jack Scarbath | B | Maryland |
| 1954 | 8 | Steve Meilinger | E | Kentucky |
| 1955 | 4 | Ralph Guglielmi | QB | Notre Dame |
| 1956 | 12 | Ed Vereb | HB | Maryland |
| 1957 | 9 | Don Bosseler | FB | Miami (FL) |
| 1958 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1959 | 4 | Don Allard | QB | Boston College |
1960s – Building the Franchise
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4 | Richie Lucas | QB | Penn State |
| 1961 | 2 | Norm Snead | QB | Wake Forest |
| 1961 | 3 | Joe Rutgens | T | Illinois |
| 1962 | 1 | Ernie Davis | B | Syracuse |
| 1963 | 7 | Pat Richter | E | Wisconsin |
| 1964 | 3 | Charley Taylor | HB | Arizona State |
| 1965 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1966 | 6 | Charlie Gogolak | K | Princeton |
| 1967 | 13 | Ray McDonald | RB | Idaho |
| 1968 | 12 | Jim Smith | DB | Oregon |
| 1969 | — | No pick | — | — |
1970s – Entering the Void
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1971 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1972 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1973 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1974 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1975 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1976 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1977 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1978 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1979 | — | No pick | — | — |
1980s – Building a Championship Roster?
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 18 | Art Monk | WR | Syracuse |
| 1981 | 20 | Mark May | T | Pittsburgh |
| 1982 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1983 | 28 | Darrell Green | CB | Texas A&I |
| 1984 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1985 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1986 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1987 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1988 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1989 | — | No pick | — | — |
1990s – Rebuilding and Retooling
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1991 | 17 | Bobby Wilson | DT | Michigan State |
| 1992 | 4 | Desmond Howard | WR | Michigan |
| 1993 | 19 | Tom Carter | DB | Notre Dame |
| 1994 | 3 | Heath Shuler | QB | Tennessee |
| 1995 | 4 | Michael Westbrook | WR | Colorado |
| 1996 | 30 | Andre Johnson | T | Penn State |
| 1997 | 17 | Kenard Lang | DE | Miami (FL) |
| 1998 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 1999 | 7 | Champ Bailey | CB | Georgia |
2000s – New Millennium Selections
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | LaVar Arrington | LB | Penn State |
| 2000 | 3 | Chris Samuels | T | Alabama |
| 2001 | 15 | Rod Gardner | WR | Clemson |
| 2002 | 32 | Patrick Ramsey | QB | Tulane |
| 2003 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 2004 | 5 | Sean Taylor | S | Miami (FL) |
| 2005 | 9 | Carlos Rogers | CB | Auburn |
| 2005 | 25 | Jason Campbell | QB | Auburn |
| 2006 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 2007 | 6 | LaRon Landry | S | Louisiana State |
| 2008 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 2009 | 13 | Brian Orakpo | LB | Texas |
2010s – Modern Draft Strategy
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 | Trent Williams | T | Oklahoma |
| 2011 | 16 | Ryan Kerrigan | DE | Purdue |
| 2012 | 2 | Robert Griffin III | QB | Baylor |
| 2013 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 2014 | — | No pick | — | — |
| 2015 | 5 | Brandon Scherff | G | Iowa |
| 2016 | 22 | Josh Doctson | WR | TCU |
| 2017 | 17 | Jonathan Allen | DT | Alabama |
| 2018 | 13 | Daron Payne | NT | Alabama |
| 2019 | 15 | Dwayne Haskins | QB | Ohio State |
| 2019 | 26 | Montez Sweat | DE | Mississippi State |
2020s – Current Draft Era
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | Chase Young | DE | Ohio State |
| 2021 | 19 | Jamin Davis | LB | Kentucky |
| 2022 | 16 | Jahan Dotson | WR | Penn State |
Award Winning Commanders First Round Draft Picks
Three Washington first-round picks have been named NFL Rookie of the Year. Quarterback Robert Griffin III was the Offensive Rookie Of The Year in 2012. Defensive end Chase Young was the Defensive Rookie Of The Year in 2020. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was the Offensive Rookie Of The Year in 2012.
Four Washington first round selections had Hall of Fame careers: Sammy Baugh, Darrell Green, Art Monk, and Charley Taylor.
Washington have not selected anybody in the first round of a draft, on twenty-eight different occasions. They only selected in the first round, four times from 1969 to 1991 – during The Super Bowl Era!!