Washington Redskins: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
By Ian Cummings
London Fletcher‘s career serves a dual purpose in retrospect; One as a standard for the excellence that Washington once found via free agency, and one as a cautionary tale for all NFL teams, that size must not be overvalued in the evaluation of an NFL Draft prospect.
Fletcher had a lot of ammunition in the lead-up to the 1998 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.40 40-yard dash at Kent State’s pro day. He logged a school record 202 tackles in his senior year at John Carroll University. He had a basketball background, speaking to his athleticism.
But because Fletcher was just a hair below 5-foot-10, and not 5-foot-11 or 6-foot-2, he went undrafted. In a story by Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated, it’s documented that the then-St. Louis Rams offered Fletcher a contract as an undrafted free agent, but Fletcher demanded a signing bonus. When the Rams refused, Fletcher pledged to come back the next offseason, asking for more money.
After his rookie season, Fletcher earned himself a starting role, but after being spurned by every team in the NFL Draft, he felt the need to keep demanding more. After four productive years in St. Louis, Fletcher signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills.
With Buffalo, he played five seasons, earning Pro Bowl alternate honors on multiple occasions. Then in 2007, at the age of 31, Fletcher signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Redskins.
Fletcher would spend the next seven years wreaking havoc on opposing NFC East teams, finally represented by a contract that accurately reflected his value.
Over those seven years, Fletcher would accrue 955 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, 53 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles and four Pro Bowl bids. He’d be the most productive Redskins free agent in history, if not for one last legend, adorned in a gold jacket.