The 2025 NFL Draft is only two weeks away, and usually the Washington Commanders get higher picks. Thankfully, the team doesn’t have to worry about that this year. Last season, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft led the Commanders to their best season in 33 years. As a result, Washington gets the No. 29 pick in the first round. Since 2000, the Commanders have had tons of draft picks, some good and others bad. Here is a look at the top 5 Commanders first-round draft picks since the 21st Century began.
Top 5 Washington Commanders First-Round Draft Picks Since 2000
Chris Samuels
Samuels was one of two Washington first-round draft picks in the year 2000. Selected No. 3 overall out of Alabama, the offensive tackle played 10 years for the Burgundy and Gold. Samuels became Washington’s starting left tackle and was selected to six Pro Bowls. In 2004, he opened up holes for Clinton Portis to rush for 1,315 yards, becoming only the fourth Commander to do so. Samuels was eventually named team captain in 2008. Long after he retired, the Alabama alum was inducted into the Commanders Ring of Fame and was named one of the 90 Greatest Commanders.
Sean Taylor
Taylor was selected No. 5 overall out of Miami (FL) in the 2004 NFL Draft. The safety quickly became a fan favorite for his reputation as a hard-hitting player. During his NFL career, Taylor was selected to two Pro Bowls and was named Second Team All-Pro in 2007. Unfortunately, his life was tragically cut short in November 2007 when he was fatally shot in his home. If Taylor had lived to play more than four years in the NFL, he could have been a Hall-of-Famer. Regardless, Taylor and his legacy will never be forgotten. He was posthumously inducted into the Commanders Ring of Fame and had his jersey No. 21 retired by the franchise.
Trent Williams
Washington selected Williams with the No. 4 pick in 2010. Still active today, the Oklahoma alum has blossomed into one of the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Williams spent his first 10 seasons with the Burgundy and Gold and made seven Pro Bowls during his time in D.C. He made two playoff appearances with Washington in 2012 and 2015. The Pro Bowl offensive tackle was selected Second-Team All-Pro for the first time in 2015. In 2020, Williams left Washington for the San Francisco 49ers whom he has played for since.
Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan was taken with the 16th pick out of Purdue in the 2011 NFL Draft. Despite a solid nine-year tenure in Washington, Kerrigan remains one of the more underrated NFL linebackers in recent memory. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in forced fumbles in 2014 (five). Kerrigan’s other career-best stats include 66 combined tackles in 2013 and 13.5 sacks in 2014. In his first NFL game, the linebacker recorded a pick-six off of Eli Manning of the New York Giants. After his retirement, Kerrigan remained a part of the Commanders’ organization as one of the assistant coaches.
Jayden Daniels
Finally, the No. 2 pick Daniels burst onto the scene with the Commanders in 2024. The LSU alum set multiple records and recorded one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. Daniels was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Washington player given that honor since Robert Griffin III in 2012. Daniels set the rookie quarterback record for most rushing yards in a single season. He also led the Commanders to their most wins in a season and their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991.
Honorable Mentions: LaVar Arrington, Brian Orakpo, Robert Griffin III, Brandon Scherff, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, Chase Young.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
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