Redskins First-Round Quarterbacks: A Quick History
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:25 pm
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!
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!
