An unconventional look into the Commanders’ drafting history

The Linebackers

This better success with late round draft picks does not only apply to running backs. In 1979, Washington took two linebackers in the NFL draft. They grabbed Penn State LB Rich Milot in the 7th round (the 182nd pick), and then, in the 11th round, took Monte Coleman of Central Arkansas (the 289th pick). Milot and Coleman would go on to play 336 games for Washington. Milot would be a regular starter. Though Coleman technically did not start throughout most of his career, he was the team’s best coverage linebacker for more than a decade and was in on virtually every passing down.

It would be 14 more years, and 16 more linebackers, before Washington cumulatively equaled that productivity. Nine of those 16 linebackers were selected earlier than Milot, and 13 were earlier than Coleman. Hallowed names like John Schaechtner and Jeff Pegues and Kevin Hendrix. Few ever even suited up for the team in a regular season game. Eventually, Larry Kubin, Ravin Caldwell, Kurt Gouveia, Andre Collins, and Rick Hamilton would account for 338 games, edging out the Milot/Coleman total. Aside from Collins, none were real long-term starters, though some were dynamic special teamers.

Washington would continue drafting linebackers with virtually no success for another 15 years. Shawn Barber performed reasonably well, and Lavar Arrington (the only top 100-pick LB Washington took prior to 2009) made the Pro Bowl in half of his seasons in Washington, but for the most part, it is a dismal track record.

Things began looking up about ten years ago when Washington took Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley and Ryan Kerrigan in successive years. But they are gone now, and the only impactful linebackers Washington has drafted since then have been Preston Smith (who left via free agency after four years) and Cole Holcomb.  Of the eleven linebackers drafted since Kerrigan, more than half were selected earlier than Holcomb. Only Khaleke Hudson and Jamin Davis remain on the roster.

With any luck, Monte Coleman’s draft magic will pay off dividends over the next decade.

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We might trace this back even farther than McDonald/Brown… all the way to 1965, when Washington selected Chris Hanburger, Washington’s only homegrown Hall of Fame linebacker, in the 18th round.