On Thursday, the Washington Commanders made a move to find their next franchise quarterback by selecting LSU star and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels with the second pick of the NFL draft. Daniels is the sixth quarterback taken in the first round by Washington in the Super Bowl era and the 14th in franchise history. Here’s a look back at Washington’s previous first-round quarterbacks and who they should have chosen instead.
Washington selected Dwayne Haskins with the 15th pick, against the wishes of the coaching staff, but he was released in December 2020 after starting 13 games in two seasons. The quarterback they should have drafted after Haskins was Gardner Minshew II, who later made a Pro Bowl appearance.
In another instance, Washington traded up to select Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick. Griffin had a promising rookie year but struggled after a knee injury. The quarterback they should have taken instead was Russell Wilson, who was picked in the third round.
After selecting Carlos Rogers and Jason Campbell in the first round, Washington should have opted for Aaron Rodgers instead of Campbell. Rodgers went one spot before Campbell in the draft and had a better career.
Washington traded down to choose Patrick Ramsey, who eventually lost his starting job to Campbell. In retrospect, they should have gone with David Garrard, who had a more successful career than Ramsey.
Heath Shuler was chosen by Washington with the third pick in the draft, but he struggled in his three seasons with the team. Instead, they should have selected Kurt Warner, who went undrafted but later found success in the NFL.
Norm Snead was picked by Washington with the No. 2 overall selection, before making a trade to the Eagles for Sonny Jurgensen. However, they should have gone with Fran Tarkenton, who was eventually a Hall of Famer.
Richie Lucas was selected by Washington but chose to sign with the Bills instead. Don Meredith, who went to the Bears in the same draft, had a more successful career than Lucas.
Washington drafted Ray Allard, who signed with the Canadian Football League instead of joining the team. They should have gone with Richie Petitbon, who later became a successful defensive coordinator.
Washington selected Ralph Guglielmi, who did not live up to expectations in his time with the team. Instead, they should have taken Johnny Unitas, who became a Hall of Famer.
Harry Gilmer was picked by Washington with the first overall selection, but he failed to deliver as expected. The team should have gone with either Bobby Layne or Y.A. Tittle instead.
In 1946, Washington traded Hardy and other players to the Rams. The quarterback they should have selected was not part of their roster at the time.
Finally, Sammy Baugh was drafted by Washington after the franchise relocated from Boston. Baugh became a star and led the team to two NFL titles. There was no quarterback they should have chosen instead of Baugh, as he was a perfect fit for the team.
