Ranking the last 10 Commanders first-round NFL Draft picks
By Dean Jones
7. Chase Young
- Defensive End | Ohio State Buckeyes
- No. 2 overall | 2020 NFL Draft
Chase Young was touted as a generational prospect coming out of Ohio State. Despite the introduction of a new regime, the Washington Commanders spurned the opportunity to take a franchise quarterback, going with the defensive end instead at No. 2 overall.
Things looked promising enough for Young initially. He won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 after gaining 7.5 sacks. After that, it was largely underwhelming.
Injuries and poor production meant Young was never able to reach similar heights. The Commanders traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for nothing more than a compensatory third-round pick. That's a damning indictment of how his talent was perceived by the organization and those around the league.
Considering the expectations pre-draft, it was incredibly disappointing.
6. Jahan Dotson
- Wide Receiver | Penn State Nittany Lions
- No. 16 overall | 2022 NFL Draft
Big things were expected of Jahan Dotson last season. His rookie flashes coupled with the introduction of Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator left many predicting a genuine breakout campaign from the wide receiver. As was the case with most bold Commanders' predictions before the campaign, it failed to bear fruit.
Dotson mustered just 518 receiving yards and four touchdowns, which was an underachievement from the player and his coaching staff. This makes his third season a critical one. Any further failings won't be tolerated by a regime that has no sentiment attached to its decision-making process.
The former Penn State star is higher than Young on this list on potential alone. But if things don't work out under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in 2024, Dotson will be firmly on the chopping block.