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When was the last time Commanders chose a running back in first round?
TL;DR
The Washington Commanders have not drafted a running back in the first round since 1971, when they acquired John Riggins, who was originally selected by the Jets. Currently, mock drafts are predicting Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love could be picked by the Commanders at No. 7 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
When was the last time the Washington Commanders/Redskins drafted a running back in the first round?
If you have noticed, about half of the mock drafts out there have been projecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Commanders at No. 7 in next week's first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. If the Commanders do select Love in the first round, do you know the last time Washington selected a running back in round one?
Washington has had some great running backs. John Riggins is their career rushing leader, and yes, Riggins was drafted in the first round. However, he was drafted No. 6 by the Jets in 1971 and later signed with Washington as a free agent.
Clinton Portis is Washington's second-leading career rusher, but he was drafted by Denver and later traded to the Redskins. Larry Brown is the third career rushing leader in Redskins history, but Brown wasn't selected until 191st overall in the 1969 draft. Stephen Davis and Alfred Morris come next in career rushing yards, and both were drafted by Washington. Davis was 102nd overall in the 1996 draft, and Morris was 173rd overall in the 2012 draft.
Terry Allen signed with Washington as a free agent after being drafted by the Vikings five years earlier in the ninth round. Earnest Byner was traded from the Browns to the Redskins for RB Mike Oliphant in 1989. Mike Thomas was selected 108th overall in the 1975 draft, and Ladell Betts was chosen in the second round at No. 56 overall.
Each is in the top 10 of career rushing leaders for Washington, and none were drafted in the first round by Washington. The last time Washington drafted a running back in the first round? You will have to go all the way back to 1967 when the Redskins selected Ray McDonald, a running back out of Idaho, with the 13th overall selection. McDonald was a beast of a man. The Redskins executives probably thought they were getting the next Jim Brown as McDonald stood 6-4 and weighed 248 pounds.
The Redskins did not get a Hall of Fame Jim Brown-type career out of McDonald, though McDonald did wear No. 32 as Brown had earlier with the Browns. They didn't even get a good career out of McDonald. In fact, he only played in 13 NFL games, period! He only earned eight starts in his two NFL seasons, both in Washington. He rushed for a career 223 yards and four rushing touchdowns. McDonald played in 12 games in his rookie season and only one in his second season of 1968. In 1969, Vince Lombardi, Redskins head coach, released McDonald prior to the start of the season. No one else signed him; McDonald was done.
If the Commanders do draft a running back in the first round of next week's draft, it will most likely be Jeremiyah Love. They will certainly be looking to get a lot more out of Love than they did out of McDonald.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: When was last time they picked 1st-round RB?
Q&A
When did the Washington Commanders last draft a running back in the first round?
The last time the Washington Commanders drafted a running back in the first round was in 1971.
Who was the last running back drafted by the Commanders in the first round?
The last running back associated with the Commanders in the first round is John Riggins, who was drafted by the Jets and later signed with Washington.
Which running back is projected to be selected by the Commanders in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Mock drafts are projecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to be selected by the Commanders at No. 7 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
