The Nats’ signing of phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Monday night brought to mind other top draft picks by Washington pro sports teams. Some have worked beautifully while others quickly flamed out. We will limit the list to players picked in the top 5 overall:
10. Heath Shuler » Redskins, No. 3, 1994
Was supposed to be Redskins’ quarterback for a decade after his No. 3 selection in 1994. Instead became one of biggest busts in team history. Spent two years as part-time starter before supplanted by Gus Frerotte in 1996. Foot injury ended career before the 1998 season. Now, a U.S. congressman representing a district in western North Carolina.
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9. Kwame Brown » Wizards, No. 1, 2001
Michael Jordan thought he had a future star when Wizards drew the No. 1 pick in 2001. Instead, he chose a 19-year-old kid out of high school who wasn’t ready to be a pro. The Wizards gave up on Brown after four years, but GM Ernie Grunfeld somehow spun him into Caron Butler.
8. Desmond Howard » Redskins, No. 4, 1992
No bigger name in the 1992 NFL Draft than Michigan wide receiver Desmond Howard. He was fourth pick that year after winning Heisman Trophy. Too small to play receiver — Howard had just 66 catches in three years with the Redskins — he excelled as a kick and punt returner, winning Super Bowl MVP honors for Green Bay in 1996.
7. Freddy Adu » D.C. United, No. 1, 2004
Essentially the No. 1 pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft — although the league allocated Adu to D.C. United so he could play close to home in Potomac, Md. At age 14, he became youngest pro athlete ever in the U.S. Adu scored 11 goals for United in three seasons before being traded to Real Salt Lake. He has since spent two unproductive years in Europe.
6. Bobby Carpenter » Capitals, No. 3, 1981
On the cover of Sports Illustrated at 17. He was the first American-born player ever taken in the first round of NHL Draft when Caps selected him No. 3 in 1981. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer scored 188 goals in a little over six seasons with Washington and won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 1995.
5. Ernie Davis » Redskins, No. 1, 1961
Few remember Redskins actually drafted the 1961 Heisman Trophy winner. He would have been the team’s first African-American player — but was instead traded to Cleveland for Hall-of-Famer Bobby Mitchell. Davis died tragically of cancer before playing an NFL game.
4. Chris Samuels » Redskins, No. 3, 2000
While LaVar Arrington (at No. 2) was the first pick of this draft and the Dan Snyder era, the real gem was found at the next pick in Samuels. The 1999 Outland trophy winner has anchored the Skins offensive line since his rookie season — making six Pro Bowls and missing only six games in his career so far.
3. Charley Taylor » Redskins, No. 3, 1964
Taylor was selected No. 3 by the Redskins in 1964 out of Arizona State. He played 13 years for the team, finished with 649 receptions and made the Pro Bowl eight times. Taylor was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1984.
2. Wes Unseld » Bullets, No. 2, 1973
Drafted while the Bullets still played in Baltimore, but Unseld spent eight of his 13 seasons in D.C. area after the team moved to Landover in 1973. The Hall of Famer was picked No. 2 out of Louisville and instantly won Rookie of the Year and MVP.
1. Alex Ovechkin » Capitals, No. 1, 2004
Is it possible to do better with a pick? Ovechkin, the top choice in 2004 NHL Draft, has already won two Hart Trophies as league MVP for the Capitals. In four seasons he has 219 goals. That puts him third in team history. With 420 points, he’s about to break into the top 10 in that category, too.
