Washington’s Quarter Century Team
July 4, 2025
By Noonefromtampa
The first 25 years of the 21st century are almost in the history books, so we’re going to take a look at the best 53-man roster of players that the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders have fielded during those years. I’ve included some alternatives for some of the positions.
Quarterback (2)
Cousins was the best quarterback that Washington fielded during this time and while Jayden Daniels looks like he may even better, he has only one season of work. Cousins threw for 16,206 yards, 99 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. Campbell threw for 10,860 yards, 55 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. Cousins ranks fourth on the all-time passing list while Campbell ranks 7th.
Alternatives: Robert Griffin III, Mark Brunell
Runnings Back (3)
Clinton Portis, Stephen Davis, Alfred Morris
These three players rank second, fourth and fifth respectively on the franchise rushing leaders list. Portis rushed for 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns, Davis had 5,790 yards and 45 touchdowns, while Morris had 4,713 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Alternatives: Ladell Betts, Antonio Gibson
Wide Receiver (6)
Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon, Terry McLaurin, DeSean Jackson, Jamison Crowder, Antwaan Randle El
The receptions/touchdown stats for this group are Moss (581/47), McLaurin (460/38), Garçon (376/21), Jackson (142/14), Crowder (246/17), El (186/8). Moss ranks 4th all-time receiving yards with 7,867 yards, McLaurin ranks 6th with 6,379 yards, Garçon ranks 11th with 4,549 yards, Crowder ranks 18th 2,859 yards, Jackson ranks 19th with 2,702 yards and El ranks 24th with 2,202 yards.
Alternatives: Rod Gardner, Laveranues Coles
Tight End (3)
Chris Cooley, Jordan Reed, Logan Thomas
The receptions/touchdown stats for this group are Cooley (429/33), Reed (329/24), Thomas (184/14). Cooley ranks 10th all-time with 4,711 yards, Reed ranks 14th with 3,371 yards, and Thomas ranks 36th with 1,685 yards.
Alternatives: Fred Davis, Vernon Davis
Tackle (4)
Trent Williams, Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen, Morgan Moses
Williams played for Washington for 9 seasons and made the Pro Bowl 7 of those years. Samuels played 10 years and made the Pro Bowl 6 times. Those two players solidified the left tackle position for almost two decades. Jansen also played 9 years for Washington and made second team All-Pro in 2005. Moses played right tackle for the team for 7 years. Both were solid right tackles.
Alternatives: Stephon Heyer, Ty Nsekhe
Guard (4)
Brandon Scherff, Samuel Cosmi, Randy Thomas, Derrick Dockery
Scherff spent 7 seasons with Washington with 5 Pro Bowl honors and one first team All Pro in 2020. Once Cosmi moved inside to guard, his athleticism allowed to be a force in pass and run blocking. Thomas spent the last 7 years of his career with Washington and excelled at run blocking. Dockery spent 6 seasons of his 10-year career in Washington.
Alternatives: Kory Lichtensteiger, Spencer Long
Center (2)
Rabach started 6 seasons for Washington in his 9-year career. He was durable, missing only one game, plus was another solid offensive lineman from the University of Wisconsin.
Alternatives: Will Montgomery, Cory Raymer
Defensive End (4)
Montez Sweat, Brian Orakpo, Andre Carter, Phillip Daniels
Orakpo ranks 13th in sacks with 40, Sweat 16th with 35.5, Carter 17th with 34, and Daniels was 42nd with 17.5 sacks.
Alternatives: Preston Smith, Renaldo Wynn
Defensive Tackle (4)
Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Cornelius Griffin, Chris Baker
Allen ranked 10th in sacks with 42, Payne 18th with 34, Griffin, 43rd with 16.5, and Baker 52nd with 11.5 sacks.
Alternatives: Matt Ioannidis, Kedric Golston
Linebacker (6)
Ryan Kerrigan, London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh, LaVar Arrington, Perry Riley, Jonathan Bostic
Kerrigan had 95.5 sacks for Washington in his career. Fletcher had 12 interceptions, 53 passes defended (7th all-time, Arrington is the next closest linebacker with 35), 9 forced fumbles and 11.5 sacks. McIntosh had 473 combined tackles, 3 interceptions and 18 passes defended. Arrington never lived up to his potential, but was freakishly athletic. Riley and Bostic were solid journeymen linebackers.
Alternatives: Marcus Washington, Antonio Pierce
Cornerback (6)
Champ Bailey, DeAngelo Hall, Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, Kendall Fuller, Carlos Rogers
Hall has 23 interceptions in 10 seasons with Washington. Bailey and Smoot both had 18 interceptions. Bailey was traded for Portis before the 2004 season. Fuller had 14 interceptions, while Springs had 12 because teams did not throw in his direction a lot. Rogers had 8 interceptions but dropped a lot more.
Alternatives: Bashaud Breeland, Quinton Dunbar
Safety (5)
Sean Taylor, Ryan Clark, Kamren Curl, LaRon Landry, Jeremy Reaves
Taylor was one of the best safeties of all time and had 12 interceptions in his shortened career. Clark was a good pair with Taylor and the team should have re-signed him. Curl was one of the better day 3 picks under Ron Rivera. Landry never lived up to his draft status and Reaves is a Pro Bowl caliber special teams player.
Alternatives: Landon Collins, Brandon Meriweather
Punter (1)
Way is the franchise leader in punting yards, yards per punt, net yards per punt, and percentage of punts inside the twenty-yard line.
Alternative: Derrick Frost
Kicker (1)
Hopkins made 179 extra points and 163 field goals for a total of 668 points over 7 seasons and 93 games
Alternative: Kai Forbath
Long Snapper (1)
“The Red Snapper” played for Washington nine years and was name to the Pro Bowl in the 2007 season. When he retired in 2010, Albright held the record for the most consecutive starts by a long snapper at 230.
Alternative: Nick Sundberg
Special Teams (1)
Alexander during his career played defensive tackle, tight end and outside linebacker for Washington. What he is best remembered for is his ferocious play on all the special teams units. He was the special teams captain during the Mike Shanahan era.
Alternative: Mike Sellers
Wrap-Up
Let us know what you think in the comments, did I miss someone or do you disagree with any choices ? Do you like Fred Davis better at tight end?