The Ron Rivera legacy is nearly gone in just seven months.
The former Washington Commanders coach and draftnik saw yet another first-rounder go on Thursday. Washington traded receiver Jahan Dotson to Philadelphia for a 2025 third-rounder and two sevenths.
Basically, that’s two bags of balls and a mid-draft selection for a 2022 first-rounder.
Already, Rivera’s first choice – 2020 No. 2 overall Chase Young – was traded last season for a third-rounder to a team that didn’t even keep him. Rivera’s controversial 2021 pick, linebacker Jamin Davis, is down to occasional pass rusher after three lackluster seasons, and isn’t even a lock to make the 53. Rivera’s 2023 first-rounder, Emmanuel Forbes, may have lost his starting role after a poor rookie season and isn’t a lock to stay in 2025.
Four first-round busts are why Washington was 4-13 last year. Indeed, successor GM Adam Peters may only keep eight of Rivera’s picks over four years. Brian Robinson may be the jewel and he didn’t rush for 1,000 in either of his first two seasons. Sam Cosmi is a solid guard who was taken as a tackle. Quan Martin is an emerging sleeper. Benjamin St-Juste, Chris Paul, K.J. Henry, Davis and Forbes make this year’s roster, but none could be here next year.
Rivera should go down with owner Dan Snyder, coach Jim Zorn, president Bruce Allen and free agent busts like Albert Haynesworth and Dana Stubblefield as cornerstones of why this once proud franchise has absolutely stunk over the past quarter century.
The real damage by Rivera also handling the draft was truly exposed when Peters ripped the roster apart. This will be the franchise’s biggest offseason roster turnover since 1945, when World War II veterans returned. Even George Allen’s 1971 “RamSkins” was only 35 percent.
Peters decided to just blow everything up. And, he’s not done, as the final cutdown on Aug. 27 could see several newcomers added to the roster. The team has already traded a conditional seventh-rounder for Cleveland kicker Cade York, their third option now since Brandon McManus was released.
Nobody is safe and that’s a great thing when coming off 4-13. Peters didn’t just re-arrange deck chairs on the Titanic, he tossed the life boats into the sea empty. Nobody escapes judgment day.
General manager Bobby Beathard was known to trade draft picks. Indeed, he went seven drafts without a first and still managed to equal Rivera’s draft output. (Beathard also drafted Mark May, Art Monk and Darrell Green over four years in the middle of his 1978-88 tenure, too.)
Washington also went seven drafts from 1984-90 without a first-rounder and was no worse off than Rivera’s drafts.
It’s not just first-rounders. Great players come throughout the draft. Rivera didn’t get any of those, either. Kam Curl was one bright spot in the 2020 seventh round, and chose not to re-sign last year.
Rivera exited in January saying if the team won a Super Bowl with 40 of his players then send him his ring. Somehow, that delivery will get lost.
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