Jacksonville sent the 16th and 49th picks to Washington in…
Jacksonville sent the 16th and 49th picks to Washington in 2011 to move to No. 10 for quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert went 5-22 as a Jaguars starter and was traded after three seasons. Washington selected Ryan Kerrigan at No. 16, landing a four-time Pro Bowler and franchise sack leader, while also controlling the second-round asset. The value gap makes this one of Washington's strongest draft-day wins.
Jacksonville Jaguars Received
- pick 2011 1st round pick (10th overall, Blaine Gabbert)
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 2011 1st round pick (16th overall, Ryan Kerrigan)
- pick 2011 2nd round pick (49th overall subsequently traded, Ben Ijalana )
Trade Analysis
Jacksonville had cycled through quarterbacks after David Garrard's decline and decided to make an aggressive move for Missouri prospect Blaine Gabbert in the 2011 draft. The Jaguars sent Washington the 16th and 49th picks to jump six spots to No. 10. Gabbert had prototypical size and arm talent, and Jacksonville viewed him as the long-term answer at the most important position on the field.
The result was a major disappointment. Gabbert became the starter during his rookie season but struggled behind an unstable offense, going 5-22 in 27 starts for Jacksonville while completing fewer than 54 percent of his passes. Injuries and coaching changes added to the difficulty, yet the performance never approached franchise-quarterback level. The Jaguars traded him to San Francisco after the 2013 season for a sixth-round pick, receiving only a small recovery on their original investment.
Washington stayed in the first round and selected Purdue edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan at No. 16. Kerrigan became an immediate starter, recorded 95.5 sacks over 10 seasons with the franchise, made four Pro Bowls and rarely missed a game. He became the kind of durable premium-position cornerstone teams hope to find in Round 1. Washington also controlled pick No. 49, which it later moved as part of additional draft-day maneuvering, adding further flexibility beyond Kerrigan.
Quarterback upside can justify aggressive trade-ups, but the bet has to deliver because the opportunity cost is enormous. Jacksonville receives an F for paying two premium picks for three unsuccessful seasons from Gabbert. Washington earns an A+ because Kerrigan alone became a decade-long star and the club also gained a second-round asset. This is a decisive Washington win.