What are the best and worst Commanders' NFL draft picks since 2000?
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders are slated to pick No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft this week. Washington looks to bounce back from last season's 5-12 debacle, and landing an instant impact player in the first round could go a long way in turning things around.
Since Adam Peters took over as general manager in 2024, he has selected quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round. It's early, but both picks look to be foundational pieces. The same can't be said some of Washington's other first-round picks in recent years before Peters arrived.
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None of Washington's first-round picks from 2019-23 are on the current roster. None earned a second contract with the team; three were released and three were traded.
As we get closer to this year's draft, CBS Sports analyst Bryan DeArdo recently looked at every NFL team's best and worst picks since the 2000 NFL Draft.
Here's who DeArdo picked for Washington:
Best pick: OT Trent Williams (No. 4 overall, 2010)
A surefire Hall of Famer, Williams earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods with Washington and has been named to four more Pro Bowls since joining the 49ers. Williams was an easy pick, but it's worth mentioning some of Washington's other notable draft picks over the past 25 years that includes the late Sean Taylor, Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Alfred Morris and Jayden Daniels.
Worst pick: QB Patrick Ramsey (No. 32 overall, 2002)
Washington spent a first-round pick on Ramsey despite some clear red flags that included completing fewer than 60% of his passes in college while throwing an alarming number of interceptions (he threw 24 interceptions during his first season as Tulane's QB1). Ramsey actually threw more touchdowns (35) than interceptions (30) in the NFL, but that was one of the only positives in an underwhelming pro career.
It's hard to dispute Williams. It's unfortunate that his tenure ended with the franchise after the 2019 season. He will be playing in his 17th NFL season in 2026 and is still playing at a high level.
DeArdo named Ramsey as the worst pick over the last 25 years. He's not even the worst quarterback pick Washington has made since 2000. Sure, Ramsey didn't pan out, but you could make the case that Robert Griffin III was worse. Yes, Griffin had a longer NFL career than Ramsey and a stellar rookie year, but he also cost Washington two additional first-round picks and a second-round pick to move up only four spots for one good season.
In 2019, the Redskins chose Dwayne Haskins because former owner Daniel Snyder wanted him. Why? Because his son played at the same high school as Haskins. This pick caused a great divide within the building, as then-head coach Jay Gruden has often stated. Gruden had no problem with drafting Haskins, but not in a year when he was on the hot seat. Haskins was not ready to play in the NFL, something Gruden warned. He was right. Gruden was fired five games into the 2019 season. Haskins was released late in the 2020 season by the next regime.
Speaking of that regime, led by former coach Ron Rivera, who also served as head of personnel, it had a horrendous four-year run with draft picks.
We aren't quite sure the author has spent a lot of time watching Washington over the years.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Best and worst NFL draft picks since 2000