Oklahoma football: Top 10 Sooner first-round NFL Draft picks
By Chip Rouse
No. 7 – RB Joe Washington, No, 4 overall pick, 1976 NFL Draft
Joe Washington was one of the most popular players in Oklahoma football history. He was also very popular among NFL scouts, selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. That was the same draft in which teammate Lee Roy Selmon was the top pick overall.
Ranked third on the OU career rushing leaderboard, Washington was in San Diego for just one season (1976). He was traded to the then Baltimore Colts, where he spent three professional seasons. In 1981, Washington was traded to the Washington Redskins. His final NFL season was with the Atlanta Falcons in 1985, completing a nine-year NFL career.
Washington’s best NFL season was in 1981, his first season with the Redskins. He rushed for 916 yards and four touchdowns and caught 70 passes for another 558 yards, including three for touchdowns.
He delivered over 4,800 rushing yards and 3,500 receiving yards in his NFL career. Washington was extremely versatile. He was dangerous both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, and he also returned kickoffs and punts in his pro career.