Tag: Chris Samuels

New mock draft gives Commanders a potentially elite offensive tackle

This pick would make Washington fans happy.

The Washington Commanders had an unprecedented run at left tackle for 20 seasons. From 2000 to 2019, Chris Samuels and Trent Williams manned the left tackle position for Washington. Samuels, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2000 NFL draft, made six Pro Bowls in his 10 NFL seasons before retiring in 2010 due to spinal stenosis.

So, in the 2010 NFL draft, former head coach Mike Shanahan chose Williams at No. 4 overall, and he immediately stepped in to replace Samuels. In 10 seasons with Washington (he didn’t play in 2019), Williams made seven Pro Bowls before he was traded in 2020.

Current left tackle Charles Leno Jr. is in his third season with the Commanders. While Leno is a solid veteran tackle, he’s undoubtedly not Williams or Samuels.

With Washington currently one of the worst teams in the NFL, it will likely have a top-five pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Depending on how high that selection is, the Commanders could entertain taking one of the draft’s top quarterbacks, or Washington could roll with Sam Howell and choose to build around him by finding the next Williams or Samuels.

Enter Olu Fashanu of Penn State.

In a new mock draft from Connor Livesay of The 33rd Team, he has the Commanders selecting Fashanu at No. 4 overall.

The Washington Commanders could consider drafting QB3 here, but adding blue-chip offensive tackle prospect Olu Fashanu is the better decision. The jury is still out as to whether Sam Howell can be the guy, so solidifying his protection and giving him one more year to earn the job makes sense.

Washington’s decision would be easier if Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were gone. There will be some draft analysts who will have Fashanu as the top overall prospect. He’s that good. Fashanu would be an ideal building block for the Commanders moving forward with a new regime expected to take over after the season.

Washington’s 1st-round draft choices in the Daniel Snyder era

Looking back at each of Washington’s first-round picks in the Dan Snyder era. It started off with a bang.

Daniel Snyder first became the Washington Redskins owner in 1999.

It was May of 1999, and the 1999 NFL draft had just been held April 17-18. So, Snyder’s first draft was the 2000 draft and wow, did he take that draft by storm. He created a huge stir in free agency by signing aging veterans to extremely overpaid contracts that would lead to less performance on the field and more dead money cap hits in the following years.

When the draft arrived he had made moves resulting in Washington holding the second and third overall selections in that draft. For Snyder, it was WIN NOW and WORRY LATER.

Well, there wasn’t much winning, and there has been more than enough to worry about for the 23 years of his ownership.

Who were the Washington first-round draft choices during the Daniel Snyder era?

  • 2000: Lavar Arrington (2nd overall), Chris Samuels (3rd overall)
  • 2001: Rod Garnder (15th overall)
  • 2002: Patrick Ramsey (32nd overall)
  • 2003: To the NY Jets for signing restricted free agent WR Laveranues Coles
  • 2004: Sean Taylor (5th overall)
  • 2005: Carlos Rogers (9th overall), Jason Campbell (25th overall)
  • 2006: Traded to Denver in Jason Campbell deal
  • 2007: LaRon Landry (6th overall)
  • 2008: Traded to Atlanta (drafted Devin Thomas, Fred Thomas)
  • 2009: Brian Orakpo (13th overall)
  • 2010: Trent Williams (4th overall)
  • 2011: Ryan Kerrigan (16th overall)
  • 2012: Robert Griffin (2nd overall)
  • 2013: Traded to the Rams for Robert Griffin selection
  • 2014: Traded to the Rams for Robert Griffin selection
  • 2015: Brandon Scherff (5th overall)
  • 2016: Josh Doctson (22nd overall)
  • 2017: Jonathan Allen (17th overall)
  • 2018: Daron Payne (13th overall)
  • 2019: Dwayne Haskins (15th overall), Montez Sweat (26th overall)
  • 2020: Chase Young (2nd overall)
  • 2021: Jamin Davis (19th overall)
  • 2022: Jahan Dotson (16th overall)

 

Remember when Daniel Snyder fired Norv Turner?

Revisiting that miserable 2000 offseason that eventually led to Snyder firing Norv Turner.

Remember when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder fired Washington head coach Norv Turner?

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, Washington lost an agonizing home game to the New York Giants 9-7.  What made matters even more frustrating for fans was that it was the second consecutive home loss and both against divisional opponents.

Former Washington Football Team head coach Norv Turner watches rookie minicamp at Inova Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Washington had gone on the road and defeated defending Super Bowl champion St Louis 33-20, pushing their record to 7-4. However, a 23-20 loss to the Eagles and then the 9-7 loss to the Giants were more than Snyder could take, firing Turner.

It was typical Snyder at the time. Insistent on pushing buttons and making personnel moves, Snyder had signed aging veterans for much too-large of contracts in the 2000 offseason: Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier and Jeff George. He had traded up in the draft ensuring Washington would draft No. 2  (LaVar Arrington) and No. 3 (Chris Samuels) in the 2000 draft.

Now Snyder was trying his hand at changing the head coach at the crucial time of three regular-season games remaining. Snyder was thinking when he pushed buttons the team would be motivated. So Turner was suddenly gone. Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes had five years of NFL head coaching experience. Yet Snyder named offensive assistant Terry Robiskie the interim coach.

Of course, the move backfired miserably. The team played like they were very unmotivated. The Redskins not only lost, but they were also embarrassed in their next two games at Dallas (32-13) and at Pittsburgh (24-3).

Despite the fact Brad Johnson had passed for 4,000 yards, led the team to 10 wins, the NFC East title and a playoff win in 199, Snyder and his player personnel right-hand man Vinny Cerrato had been signing aging veterans to large contracts rather than Washington veterans. Jeff George who was known to be a poor leader was brought to quarterback despite the fact Brad Johnson had passed for 4,000 yards, led the team to 10 wins, the NFC East title and a playoff win in 1999.

What in the world was Snyder thinking?

I recall fans being excited. I recall the media being excited. It was one of the first times in my life I saw trouble out front. How on earth could he have thought Jeff George brought in was good for the team?

Brad Johnson? He got out of town as soon as he could following the 2000 season, signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay and they won the Super Bowl with Johnson as their offensive leader in 2002.

The 2000 offseason was one where Snyder insisted on making his HUGE splashes. Yet in the end, the season was a mess, and Dan Snyder had no one to blame but himself. He tried to save the season by blaming Turner and firing him. That didn’t work out well either.

A disturbing pattern by Snyder was now beginning to be noticed.