Remembering The Greatest Draft Pick in Washington's Franchise History

Quarterback Sammy Baugh has been named the greatest draft pick in Washington Commander's history.

Quarterback Sammy Baugh is one of the most incredible draft selections in the history of the Washington Commanders franchise.

In a recent article naming the best players chosen by each franchise, SI deemed Sammy Baugh the best player ever drafted by Washington.

“In the draft’s second year of existence, Washington found the greatest player in franchise history with Baugh. Out of TCU, Baugh helped revolutionize the position of quarterback alongside the Bears’ Sid Luckman, while also winning two titles,” SI said.

While some may argue that Baugh being drafted back in 1937 limited the level of skilled competition he faced, it also allowed him to accomplish extraordinary feats impossible in the modern NFL.

“Baugh was a two-way player, and in 1943 led the NFL in defensive interceptions (11), punting yardage (2,295) and completion percentage (55.6). A four-time first-team All-Pro and a member of the ’40s All-Decade Team, Baugh was enshrined in Canton with its inaugural class of ’63,” SI said.

For context, Baugh only played in 10 games during the 1943 season. Yet, his punting yards would still place him near the yardage of modern-day punters, despite the league not playing a 17-game regular season, and his 11 interceptions are nearly double that of the league leaders from 2022, who tied with six picks.

Washington’s historical Shohei Ohtani-esque player could star on offense, defense, and special teams and even won the franchise a championship in his rookie season. Baugh is a multi-time champion and all-time great player deserving of praise from modern NFL fans unfamiliar with the game's history.

With the 2023 draft approaching, Commanders fans hope to land a player with an impact similar to Baugh in at least one phase of the modern-day game.

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