Redskins First-Round Quarterbacks: A Quick History

[Steve Spurrier III]

As we approach the dawn of the Jason Campbell era, I thought I’d take a quick look back at other Redskin first-round quarterbacks, just to see what kind of history Campbell is up against.

1936 – Riley Smith, Alabama

Smith holds the distinction of being the team’s first ever draft pick after being selected second overall in the NFL’s first ever amateur draft. Smith was a solid player for the Redskins, but injury cut short his professional career.

1937 – Sammy Baugh, Texas Christian – HOF, Class of 1963

Without a doubt, the greatest player in Redskins history, and the only man to ever have his number (33) officially retired. Slingin’ Sammy single handedly turned around the Redskins franchise, and played a huge part in establishing professional football in a baseball country. No matter how many Super Bowls Campbell wins or Pro Bowls he attends, neither he nor anyone else will ever be able match Baugh’s contribution to this franchise or the sport of football.

1948 - Harry Gilmer - Alabama - thanks to Welch

As Baugh's career was winding down, the Redskins drafted Gilmer. Gilmer was an interesting player - sort of a halfback/quarterback hybrid, who would usually jump in the air to throw the ball rather than set his feet. His passing numbers weren't impressive, but he did go to two Pro Bowls in his six seasons with Washington. Gilmer went on to coach the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1966.

1952 – Larry Isbell, Baylor

An All-American at Baylor, Isbell eschewed the Redskins for minor league baseball, although he did eventually find his way into the CFL.

1953 – Jack Scarbath, Maryland

After losing out on Isbell, the Redskins tried again with Scarbath. Scarbath played two unmemorable seasons with the Redskins before signing with the Steelers in 1956. He was out of football the following season.

1955 – Ralph Guglielmi – Notre Dame

After the Scarbath experiment mercifully ended after the 1954 season, the Redskins drafted a quarterback in the first round for the third time in four seasons. Guglielmi played four seasons for the Redskins, although the results were pretty ugly. He finished his Redskins career with just fifteen touchdowns to thirty-six interceptions. Trust me, they would have been begging for Brunell in the late 50’s.

1959 – Don Allard, Boston College

Allard never played for the Redskins, but did play two seasons in the AFL with the Patriots and Titans. Judging by his performance in the junior circuit, the Redskins weren’t missing much. (Although considering Washington was still starting Guglielmi, who knows.)

1960 – Richie Lucas – Penn State

For the second straight year, the Redskins were burned by their first-round quarterback when Lucas opted to play with the AFL Buffalo Bills. But like Allard, Lucas found limited success in the AFL, and was out of football by 1962.

1961 – Norm Snead – Wake Forest

After going coming up dry since the Baugh pick, the Redskins finally found success with Norm Snead. Snead was a good player for the Redskins, including a Pro Bowl trip in 1963, but his real value was realized when the Redskins traded him for Sonny Jurgensen, finally giving the Redskins the franchise quarterback they had been missing since Baugh’s retirement in 1952.

1994 – Heath Shuler – Tennessee

Thanks to George Allen’s and Joe Gibbs’ tendency to trade away draft picks, the Redskins were making just their seventh first round pick since 1968, and with it, they selected the much-hyped Heath Shuler. Billed as the next Steve Young, Shuler held out of training camp, struggled with the playbook and quickly lost the job to seventh-rounder Gus Frerrotte. After a season with New Orleans in 1997, a "toe injury" forced him out of football. Shuler did find success off the field, making millions in real estate and recently becoming the new Congressman of North Carolina’s 11th District. While this is interesting and impressive, it is also of zero use or comfort to Redskin fans.

2002 – Patrick Ramsey – Tulane

It will be interesting to see how history remembers Patrick Ramsey. On one hand you have the raw numbers that scream mediocre (10-14 record, 75.0 quarterback rating). On the other hand, you have the extenuating circumstances (shoddy offensive line play, miserable offensive schemes). Did Spurrier ruin him, or would he have always lacked the poise, accuracy and pocket awareness to be an NFL starter? We’ll never know, but he was a classy guy in Washington, and netted the team a seventh-round pick in a trade with the Jets, where he remains today.

2004 – Jason Campbell – Auburn

And that brings us to the present. Expectations are high for Campbell. After two and a half seasons of the Mark Brunell/Patrick Ramsey show fans are eager for something new. It’s impossible to tell what we’ll see from Campbell, but it will almost undoubtedly include something different.

Campbell is a member of an interesting club. The success rate is pretty low, but the two most decorated quarterbacks in Redskins history were acquired through the draft, whether it be directly (Baugh) or indirectly (Jurgensen, via the Snead trade). The only other two quarterbacks who approach those two field generals are Kilmer and Theismann, and frankly, they are both clearly a notch or two below Sammy and Sonny.

Someday, the Redskins are going to land their next great quarterback. I don’t know if Campbell will sniff Jurgensen or even Ralph Guglielmi, but I’m excited to find out. And after his first snap this Sunday, he will have already made a bigger impact than Larry Isbell, Don Allard and Richie Lucas. That’s got to be worth something, right? Just kidding – that kid better win and win fast – we’re heading for another high draft pick, and I’ve got my eye on Brady Quinn!

[Irn-Bru]

Great post, SSIII. Very nice summary.

[The Hogster]

I think we're due for a great QB.

[Cappster]

Hopefully, after 70 years of waiting for the "franchise quarterback" (Baugh), we will have a true "franchise quarterback" right now. Theismann could be up there with Baugh but nevertheless, its been a long time since we have had a dominate QB.

[Fios]

Great post, SSIII. Very nice summary.

Ditto ... where'd you find that information?








Please don't make an ass of me and tell me it is from this site

[KevinW]

Along the lines of Redskins QB history, check out this link from the Washington Post graphing our QBs win-loss records from 1993. I forgot there had been so many. Easy to say now, but even at the time I thought letting Trent Green go was a mistake.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00121.html

[aswas71788]

I didn't think we had any draft picks left until 2043. LOL!!!! Just kidding!!

[Steve Spurrier III]

Ditto ... where'd you find that information?

Please don't make an ass of me and tell me it is from this site

You can find the Redskins draft history here, and can find bios on the obscure guys easily enough through Google. I would have included some career statistics, but I have been temporarily seperated from my Pro Football Encylopedia and would hate to be inconsistent and not include Riley Smith's stats. In fact, I look forward to seeing what kind of numbers he did put up, since Baugh arrived the next season but Smith was still with the team until 1939 or 1940. He probably became a back of some kind, but I don't really know.

Glad to see people enjoyed it.

[old-timer]

As we approach the dawn of the Jason Campbell era, I thought I’d take a quick look back at other Redskin first-round quarterbacks, just to see what kind of history Campbell is up against.

The 'Jason Campbell Era'? YOU DON'T GET A STINKIN' ERA UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING!!!!!

Was there a Heath Shuler Era? A Danny Wuerffel Era? A Stan Humpries Era?

No!!!

I've been calling for the kid to get a chance since preseason, but if he stinks up the joint, he gets the hook just like Brunell and the search resumes. And nobody talks about any 'Eras'! When we get a new era, we'll know it!

[Hoss]

Hey Steve, nice post. Nice to read something informative.

It's material like this that reminds me of why I appreciate this site so much.

[Steve Spurrier III]

The 'Jason Campbell Era'? YOU DON'T GET A STINKIN' ERA UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING!!!!!

Was there a Heath Shuler Era? A Danny Wuerffel Era? A Stan Humpries Era?

Yes. Era can be defined as simply a period of time to which anything belongs. I never said they were good eras.

[cleg]

Off topic a little but if I were Patrick Ramsey I would loathe Spurrier for the rest of my life for possibly ruining my career.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Off topic a little but if I were Patrick Ramsey I would loathe Spurrier for the rest of my life for possibly ruining my career.

...or, you would focus on becoming a good quarterback, but the choice is yours whether you wanna pout or perform.

[Cappster]

Off topic a little but if I were Patrick Ramsey I would loathe Spurrier for the rest of my life for possibly ruining my career.

...or, you would focus on becoming a good quarterback, but the choice is yours whether you wanna pout or perform.

If Ramsey "HAD IT", he would be starting for some team right now making plays. The best he can hope for now is just to call one in to Pennington.

[dmwc]

I think that Ramsey would have been a good QB... i thought he was tough and for some reason reminded me of Farve. Im not saying that Ramsey is,but he should get another chance.

[1niksder]

I think that Ramsey would have been a good QB... i thought he was tough and for some reason reminded me of Farve. Im not saying that Ramsey is,but he should get another chance.

Ramsey is competing with a rookie to see who gets the clipboard.

Steve Spurrier screwed him up good

[welch]

- Harry Gilmer was also a QB, first round pick about 1946. Gilmer was not great...in fact, hardly very good.

- Gary Beban amounted to a first round pick in about 1968. A Heisman Trophy winner, he was drafted in the first round by the Rams, but wanted so much money that they traded his rights to the Redskins for a first rounder (or more??). Lombardi took over the team about a year later, and made Beban a punt returner. Incidentally, the Heisman Trophy winner the year before was another QB, a flat failure named Steve Spurrier.

[Steve Spurrier III]

- Harry Gilmer was also a QB, first round pick about 1946. Gilmer was not great...in fact, hardly very good.

1948. Gilmer is listed as a back by NFL.com, but he was indeed a quarterback. Thanks.