3 best trades in Washington Football Team history

1. The Ricky Williams mega-haul

No surprises here.

During the 1999 NFL Draft, Washington possessed the No. 5 overall pick. With studs like Torry Holt, Ricky Williams, Champ Bailey and Jevon Kearse still on the board, they had their choice of prospects. However, they were willing to move back a couple picks if a buyer called up with a reasonable offer.

So, when the Saints, who had their sights set on Williams, came calling with a haul for the ages, Washington had no choice but to accept.

In order to move up to draft the former Texas Longhorn, the Saints traded away their first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh-round picks from the 1999 draft. But that’s not all. New Orleans also unloaded their first- and third-rounders in the 2000 draft. All that capital thrown away for a pick they’d use on a RB.

The only problem? Williams lasted just three years in the Big Easy.

It’s worth noting that Washington didn’t hit on all of those draft picks. However, they didn’t need to. The ones they hit on were gems, including linebacker Lavar Arrington and cornerback Champ Bailey, two stars at their positions.

Bailey’s tenure in DC didn’t last as long as it should have, but he was arguably the best CB in the league during his tenure and Washington managed to acquire Clinton Portis when they moved off the Hall of Fame corner.

That’s a preposterous trade-off for just three years of Williams, which makes this the undisputed best trade in Washington’s history.