Drafting High Won't Solve Running Woes

The last time the Washington Redskins drafted a running back in the first round was 50 years ago.

- Thom Loverro

It was Ray McDonald, out of Idaho, with the 13th pick in the first round, selected by the owner himself, Edward Bennett Williams. 

That didn’t go well. 

McDonald had a series of injuries, playing in 13 games, rushing for 223 yards and four touchdowns in a little over one season of play. One version of the end of his career with the Redskin was that he fell out of favor in 1969 early with new coach Vince Lombardi, who cut the running back when he failed to show up for a meeting on “Lombardi” time – five minutes early.

Since then, the Redskins haven’t been willing to invest a first-round pick in another running back. 

That may change this year. 

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Redskins selecting Florida State University running back Dalvin Cook in the first round in one mock draft.