5 lessons the Commanders should learn from recent first-round draft blunders

Trading up has hidden minefields

Any team without a long-term answer at quarterback is prone to take a chance on a hot prospect. There’s nothing wrong with that. And there was nothing wrong with the selection of Jason Campbell as the No. 25 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Campbell was a decent pro quarterback. During his four years with the now-Washington Commanders, he provided some stability. But he was not a savior. Far from it.

The mistake wasn’t taking a chance on Campbell after his outstanding college career. The mistake was giving up multiple assets to take that chance.

The selection of Campbell is an object lesson in why this is usually a bad move. Washington traded three selections to move into the end of the first round so that they could draft the promising signal-caller. The first two picks they gave up - 2005 third-rounder Karl Paymah and 2006 first-rounder Manny Lawson - were nothing special. But the least valuable pick - the fourth-rounder in 2006 - turned into Brandon Marshall.

Marshall ended his career with 970 catches, more than 12,000 receiving yards, and 81 touchdowns. The takeaway here is that you don’t give up draft picks for dart throws. You never know which of your unheralded picks is going to end up as one of your best players.