Will the Commanders miss not having their 5th-round choice in the 2025 NFL draft?

[ASFN Admin]

With Washington having traded its fifth-round draft choice to the 49ers for Deebo Samuel, how well have the Commanders/Redskins drafted in the fifth round?

The choices the Commanders still own this year are in Round 1 (29), Round 2 (61), Round 4 (128), Round 6 (205), and Round 7 (245).

I've noticed there are various levels of players Washington has drafted over the years in the fifth round:

• There have been a couple of fifth-round choices who have become NFL studs, producing many productive years. I've said it many times, the two greatest fifth-round choices in my lifetime for Washington were Dexter Manley (1981) and Brian Mitchell (1990)—instant impact when they put on the Burgundy and Gold.
• Then there are the players who become steady producers, consistently contributing at their respective positions and becoming dependable team contributors, such as Chris Thompson (2013), Matt Ioannidis (2016), and Cole Holcomb (2019).
• Then there are fifth-round picks who play well enough to get into the rotation at their respective positions. They become legitimate veterans who contributed to the team, although they never achieved stardom in the NFL. Hard-working guys like Darrick Forrest (2021), Tim Settle (2018), Jeremy Sprinkle (2017), Ryan Grant (2014), Niles Paul (2011), Anthony Montgomery (2006), Robert Royal (2002), Darnerien McCants (2001) come to mind.
• Sometimes, a fifth-rounder might bring you someone who plays special teams but never becomes a full-time starter. Keith Ismael, Khaleke Hudson (2020), K.J. Henry (2023), Martrell Spaight (2015), DeJon Gomes (2011).
• Sometimes the fifth round brings players who experienced college success, and so the fan base gets excited when they hear a familiar name drafted. Yet it is no guarantee of success. Take 2022, for example, when QB Sam Howell and TE Cole Turner were selected.
• Being drafted in the fifth round also brings players who simply never were explosive enough or strong enough to have an impact at all in the NFL, and they do not last very long. Quincy Sanders (2000), Mark Wilson (2004), Robert McCune (2005), Dallas Sartz (2007), Adam Gettis (2012), Ross Pierschbacher (2019).

This year's NFL draft is scheduled to take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The action begins Thursday night, April 24, with the first round. The second and third rounds will be held on April 25, and the draft will conclude with rounds 4 through 7 on April 26.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Dexter Manley & Brian Mitchell were studs drafted in round 5.

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