Joe Jacoby went undrafted in 1981, but he found employment with the Washington Redskins where he would become one of the greatest undrafted players in franchise history.

The Miami Dolphins drafted Joe Theismann in 1971, but he never signed with them, instead electing to go north to the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts, where he was a two-time CFL All-Star.  The Dolphins would trade the Quarterback's rights in 1974 to the Washington Redskins, where he would sign as Billy Kilmer's backup.

Larry Brown was considered an underachiever at Kansas State, which explains why he dropped to the Eighth Round in the 1969 Draft despite his immense talent.  The Washington Redskins were the team that took him, and new Head Coach, Vince Lombardi had a special project on his hands.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, Sonny Jurgensen was the Eagles’ backup when they won the 1960 NFL Championship.  Jurgensen took over after as their starting QB, leading the league in Passing Yards in both 1961 and 1962.  Jurgensen was hurt for much of 1963, and the Eagles deemed him expendable, and he was traded to the Washington Redskins for fellow QB, Norm Snead, and Cornerback, Claude Crabb.

Art Monk showed a lot of promise at the University of Syracuse, so much so that he was a First Round Pick (18^thOverall) in the 1980 Draft.

The Washington Redskins won three Super Bowls within the 1980s and early 90s, but unlike most great teams, the Offensive Line was considered the star attraction.  They were the elite group that did not just win three Super Bowls but protected three different ones to a title.  This group were the "Hogs," and the best of the group was Russ Grimm.

Charles Mann was a Third Round Pick from Nevada in 1983, and the Defensive End became a starter in his second year in the league.

Ken Houston was already established as one of the game’s top Safeties, where he played for the Houston Oilers and went to five straight AFL All-Star/Pro Bowls. After six seasons with Houston, he was traded to the Washington Redskins for five players.  Despite giving up five vets, the Redskins got the better end of the transaction.

The Washington Redskins got maximum value for their Ninth Round Pick in 1964 when they chose Len Hauss, a Center from the University of Georgia.

One of the best college players at Arizona State, Charlie Taylor was a star baseball and football star as a Sun Devil.  On the gridiron, Taylor was the Third Overall Pick in 1963, which would transcend into a Hall of Fame career in Professional Football.

A late First Round Pick in 1983 by the Washington Redskins, Darrell Green became the most successful athletes ever from Texas A&M-Kingsville.

At TCU, Sammy Baugh played basketball, baseball, and football, and he was excellent at all of them.  Baugh was more passionate about baseball, but football was his true calling, and he signed with the Washington Redskins, who made him the Sixth Overall Pick in the 1937 Draft.

Chris Hanburger may have had a good career at North Carolina, but it was only worthy of generating an 18^thRound Pick in the NFL Draft.  It is likely that nobody noticed the selection of Hanburger by the Washington Redskins, but they noticed his overall professional career.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #97, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #98, 2022 Pre-Season Rank: #106, 2021 Pre-Season Rank: #125, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #138.  Peak Period 2017-21

The 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year was a Pro Bowl Selection four times in his first five seasons, but his last three years have been riddled with injury, and Lattimore’s momentum has been derailed.  He has a lot more work to do in the next few seasons to get back on track, but he will now do so as a Washington Commander.  Lattimore could very well be at the crossroads.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #3, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #3, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #6, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #10, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #18. Peak: 2016-20

Our highest-ranked defensive player has everything a Hall of Fame player needs.

Bobby Wagner, who begins his second year with the Commanders in 2025, boasts numerous accolades, including a Super Bowl ring (with Seattle), an All-Decade Selection, ten Pro Bowls, and six First Team All-Pro honors. 

At 35, Wagner is defying age and also owns impressive defensive statistics, most notably 1,838 Combined Tackles, making him the game’s active leader and fourth-place overall, trailing only Ray Lewis (2,059), London Fletcher (2,039), and Junior Seau (1,847).  Wagner, who is also a natural leader on whatever team he is on, always seems to know where the ball is going to be, and is already near the top of the list of football’s best run-stoppers.  However, despite that reputation, he is effective on the pass rush, owning 35 Sacks and 99 Tackles for Loss. 

Even if Wagner never plays another snap, his Hall of Fame case is already built, but how much sweeter would it look with a second ring?  The Washington Commanders are contenders to do just that.

2024 Pre-Season Rank #7, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #4, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #7, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #8, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #10.  Peak Period: 2011-12/2014-16.

As it stands right now, Von Miller already has a Hall of Fame resume and might have the goods to get in on the first ballot. 

A Defensive Rookie of the Year, Super Bowl winner, and Super Bowl MVP for the Denver Broncos, Miller has all the statistical requirements the Hall looks for and the name recognition that fits the word "Fame.”   Over the last three seasons, Miller served as a pass-rushing specialist for the Buffalo Bills, and he is continuing his career in 2025 with the up-and-coming Washington Commanders.

Miller enters 2025 with 129.5 Sacks, only three behind Leslie O’Neal and the legendary Lawrence Taylor for 14th place all-time, and is the current active leader, and is sixth all-time in Tackles for Loss, notably tied with Hall of Famers Julius Peppers and Jared Allen.   Five more TFLs will get him fifth place, just ahead of first-ballot lock, Aaron Donald.  Considering what his specific role is, catching Taylor for Sacks and Donald for Tackles for Loss is doable.