Washington Redskins: 15 best draft day steals of all-time
By Ian Cummings
In terms of value relative to draft slot, the No. 1 name on this list is a runaway winner. The Redskins have had some great players over the years, but no one outperformed his draft stock more than Chris Hanburger.
A product of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Hanburger entered the 1965 NFL Draft with the expectation of an opportunity at the NFL level. But that opportunity came later than expected, as Hanburger was forced to wait until the 18th round to hear his name called. The rounds only contained 14 selections each back then, but it’s safe to say Hanburger was buried in his class.
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Hanburger was the 13th of 14 Redskins selections, but he soon separated himself as the smartest and the most talented. In his second season, he’d solidified himself as the team’s starting outside linebacker. He flew across the field with blazing speed and unflinching tenacity.
Nicknamed “The Hangman” for his ferocity and disregard for opponent comfort, Hanburger earned his first Pro Bowl bid in just his second season. He’d follow that one up with eight more, along with four All-Pro bids.
In 1972, Hanburger won NFL Defensive Player of the Year and led the Redskins to the Super Bowl, where he helped the defense hold the Miami Dolphins to just 14 points.
The Dolphins would ultimately win, due more to Washington’s ineptitude on offense. And Hanburger would leave hungry for more. But the opposition saw him play. They saw how he elevated above the rest. And there was honor in that.
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Hanburger would end his career, after 187 games and 177 starts, without a Super Bowl ring. But he would receive true honor in 2011, when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, adorned in a gold jacket. It’s a worthy prize for not just one of Washington’s greatest draft-day steals in history, but one of the greatest steals in NFL history.