Washington Redskins: Best pick from each of last 10 NFL Draft classes
By Hunter Noll
The NFL Draft is slowly approaching, meaning it’s time to look back on past failures and successes. Who are the best selections of the Washington Redskins last 10 drafts?
Any fan of the Washington Redskins knows one thing for certain: The Redskins aren’t very good at drafting. All it takes is a quick look at their history (seriously, look at the 2005-08 drafts) for proof of this. In case you were wondering, it’s not a coincidence that this piece will be looking at “the last 10 drafts”. The drafts before it weren’t exactly overflowing with superstar draft picks by the Redskins.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t draft some superstars or get the great value picks every once in a while. In fact, over the last 10 seasons, they’ve managed at least one standout in each draft. That might not seem like the biggest accomplishment, but fans of Washington will take whatever they can when it comes to their selections.
Not all of these players have become superstars, but they’ve at least impacted the team in a positive way. Some are first round picks who were always destined for greatness, while others were late-round sleepers who took the NFL by surprise. Some drafts were easy, with only one standout — or one who at least clearly stood above the rest. While others didn’t have a clear winner but tough decisions must be made.
It’s also important to note that not every “failure” is the fault of the Redskins. Injuries and bad luck have taken their toll on Washington over the years and ruined quite a few promising careers. Sadly, that’s something that is present in the last 10 seasons and something that will have to be touched upon in this list.
Beyond that, things are subject to change, especially with the recent drafts. While there may be some clear standouts through one or two seasons, the 2017 and 2018 drafts aren’t done growing. Those players can fall off a cliff, or rise to stardom, in the blink of an eye.
So while this is the list for now, we could all come back to this in a few years and laugh that someone was once considered a highlight or lowlight of a draft.