We've already ranked each Washington Commanders first-round pick from the last 10 seasons. Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft upon us, it's time to focus on some players who were taken a bit later on.
With that in mind, here is the best value pick, defined here as after the first round, made by Washington in each year of the past decade. Selections are chosen both based on overall impact as well as draft position. Undrafted free agents are not eligible.
Let's get into it.
Commanders' best value pick from each of the past 10 drafts
2015 NFL Draft: Jamison Crowder
- Wide Receiver | Duke Blue Devils
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 105
Jamison Crowder was the 15th wide receiver drafted in 2015. Of all 14 taken before him, an argument can be made that only Amari Cooper and Tyler Lockett had more productive NFL careers (we'll ignore Stefon Diggs, who was drafted after).
The former Duke standout played his first four years in Washington. His best season came in 2016 when he caught 67 passes for 847 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Crowder later returned for two more campaigns after stops with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, notably catching the game-winning touchdown from Jayden Daniels in the Commanders' statement win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
2016 NFL Draft: Matt Ioannidis
- Defensive Line | Temple Owls
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 152
Washington's first two picks in 2016 — Josh Doctson and Su'a Cravens — were disasters, but the team found a steal in the fifth round with Matt Ioannidis. The Temple alum struggled to get on the field as a rookie but broke out in his sophomore campaign and became a regular starter on the defensive line between 2017 and 2021.
He racked up a total of 24.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his time in the burgundy and gold. After one season with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, he's been out of the league.
2017 NFL Draft: Chase Roullier
- Offensive Line | Wyoming Cowboys
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 199
He's not the most famous player in NFL history to be drafted No. 199 overall, but just making it to a second contract as a sixth-round pick is no small feat. Chase Roullier was a serviceable center for Washington between 2017 and 2022, appearing in 69 games and starting 63. Injuries ultimately cut his career short, and he retired from football in 2023.
2018 NFL Draft: Tim Settle
- Defensive Line | Virginia Tech Hokies
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 163
This may have been the hardest draft to select a candidate from. The spot nearly went to Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn, whose 273 career receiving yards were about 273 more than one could've reasonably expected.
That said, Tim Settle gets the nod with his seven career sacks during his time in D.C., including five during the 2020 season when he was a key role player on a dominant defensive line. He's had a solid career since leaving Washington, matching that career-high in sacks last year with the Houston Texans. Not bad for a fifth-round pick.
2019 NFL Draft: Terry McLaurin
- Wide Receiver | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 76
The biggest no-brainer on this list, and when accounting for draft position, possibly the best Washington selection in decades.
Some of the 11 different wide receivers taken ahead of Terry McLaurin include N'Keal Harry, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, and Jalen Hurd. Now, the man Commanders fans affectionately know as "Scary Terry" is a two-time Pro Bowler with more than 6,000 career receiving yards.
Last season — his first with a quality quarterback — McLaurin reeled in a career-high 13 touchdowns. He's been a model of consistency, professionalism, and leadership throughout his career and is well on his way to being remembered as a Washington all-time great.
2020 NFL Draft: Kamren Curl
- Safety | Arkansas Razorbacks
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 216
The first draft of Ron Rivera's tenure in D.C. would be filled with more misses than hits, a harbinger of things to come. That said, Kamren Curl was a gem in the seventh round.
Curl was a physical safety who managed to work his way into the starting lineup as a rookie. He recorded three interceptions that year, though weirdly none afterwards despite continuing to play at a quality level for three more seasons.
The defensive back remained in Washington throughout his rookie deal but left for the Los Angeles Rams last spring.
2021 NFL Draft: Sam Cosmi
- Offensive Line | Texas Longhorns
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 51
There were some intriguing options here. Fifth-rounder Darrick Forrest had an awesome 2022 season before injuries prevented him from sustaining that level. Fourth-rounder John Bates has become an elite blocking tight end. Still, it's hard to overlook how important Sam Cosmi is to the Commanders, even if his production has been less unexpected as a second-round pick.
Cosmi has been the offensive line's lone bright spot in recent years. Washington will have to hope he can return to form once he's ready to return from a torn ACL.
2022 NFL Draft: Brian Robinson Jr.
- Running Back | Alabama Crimson Tide
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 98
Brian Robinson Jr.'s career in the NFL nearly ended before it began when he was shot in the leg during an attempted robbery before his rookie season. That only added to the adversity he faced to find a consistent role on the Commanders as a mid-round pick, yet he was back on the field only weeks later and became a multi-year quality starter.
He's not a game-changer, but with upwards of 800 yards of total offense in each of his three campaigns thus far, Robinson is a solid weapon to have in the backfield. Considering Washington's other picks in this draft, he's easily the best option here.
2023 NFL Draft: Quan Martin
- Safety | Illinois Fighting Illi
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 47
Quan Martin gets this slot almost by default. He is one of only two members of Washington's disastrous 2023 NFL Draft class who are still on the roster two years later. The other one, seventh-rounder Andre Jones Jr., has split time with the practice squad.
That said, the second-rounder from Illinois has turned out to be a solid player after a slow start to his career, becoming a full-time starter last season and recording a memorable pick-six in the divisional round against the Detroit Lions. Martin could be poised for a breakout in 2025.
2024 NFL Draft: Mike Sainristil
- Cornerback | Michigan Wolverines
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 50
While Jayden Daniels was getting all of the attention (and rightfully so) among Washington's rookies last season, the Commanders quietly hit a home run on another 2024 prospect in Mike Sainristil. The Michigan man came into his own near the end of the season and looks poised to take a Pro Bowl-level step forward as a sophomore.
It's still too early to say for sure, but so far he's got a leg up on the field for "best of the rest" honors among Washington's non-Daniels picks.
