NFL Network posted the top 10 draft classes in draft history recently and the Redskins 1981 draft class was ranked 7th. In that draft we got the foundation for the defensive line and the Hogs be selecting Mark May (1st round), Russ Grimm (3rd round), Dexter Manley (5th round) and Darryl Grant (9th round), not to mention two less celebrated but key members of our passing game with “Downtown” Charlie Brown (9th round) and Clint Didier (12th round).
This got me thinking about who might be the best draft pick in Redskins history. Not the best player necessarily, but the combination of best player at the most efficient pick. Without trying to smush your own thoughts here are some potential candidates:
Mark Rypien 6th round
Raleigh McKenzie 12th round
Darrell Green end of 1st round
Monte Coleman 11th round
George Starke 11th round
Chris Hanburger 18th round (yes the draft used to go 18 rounds)
There are other possibilities, but I didn’t want to totally ruin the conversation before it starts. Who is the best?
Feel free to post in comments below, but this also seems like a good chance to show off our new Fan-sided forums. I also posted this question there, and for fun and to relive the sadness, I have a thread for the worst draft bust in Redskins history, too. Check it out and chime in.
-DW
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You can never go wrong in picking Darrell Green. He was the heart and soul of the Skins.
No doubt, and that is why I put him there even though he’s a first rounder, but the fact that he is a first rounder means some other guys deserve consideration.
-DW
Hmmm… Heath Shuler is suspiciously absent…
Jason is joking, but even years after he was drafted, Dave kept insisting that Shuler was going somewhere. Hey Dave, isn’t it great to have friends who remember all the fun things you used to say? Now if only I could pronounce our kicker’s name properly, I’d be immune to retribution too. Soo-ey-ishy-ham, right?
hey, was slingin sammy baugh drafted? he was the greatest skin ever??? i’m a cowboy fan so i’m just askin. i love the redskin cowboy rivalry. it’s the most classic in sports. cowboys, indians and all. who can ask for more
Dave,
I’d make some rude comment about being too smart to be a Cowboys fan except you were so nice and polite I feel bad about doing it. In fact, Slingin’ Sammy was drafted in the first round in 1937 out of TCU. This was only the second year of the draft, which I cannot say for sure, but I’m assuming was an attempt at keeping costs down in the depression.
For those who care, the very first Redskins draft pick was Riley Smith from Alabama. I can’t tell you exactly what position he played. Back then, players were only divided in terms of "backs," "ends," "tackles," and "guards." But I would assume he was either a running back of one type or another or he shortly found the bench after Baugh was picked.
Keep coming back, Dave. We love the rivalry too when everyone can keep it fun.
-DW
hey thanks for takin it easy on me. i’m not on hear to bash anyone, just love talkin football. but i do un derstand that on ocasion trash must be spewd. i did have to go pokin on the g-string blog. those giants are some cocky bastards these days, and ya just feel the need to put them in their place. to bad it’s at the top. (for now). i loved watchin larry brown, sonny jurgenson, charley taylor, roy jefferson, billy kilmer, sorry i just hate that diron talbert? that was when it was fun. george allen brought it to us and those we’re the good old days. (god bless roger). i’ll be back you skin boys keep it comin. always fun
DaveDallas, I hear you when it comes to the Giants and their fans. Much as I like to joke about Eli signing some sort of infernal contract with Satan, he pulled out three clutch games in a row and won the big game so I have to suck it up and give them some props. I take some solace in the strong belief that they won’t stay at the top very long and that they’re stuck spending big money on an average head coach.
It’s also nice to see a football fan who can understand that the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry makes BOTH the Redskins and the Cowboys better teams. Respect can go hand in hand with emnity, and that’s as it should be. Feel free to come in and comment whenever you like.
I’m totally hooked on Sonny with a chance, Sonny is my favorite on the show! Thanks for posting this, I enjoyed reading it!