Former Washington Commanders GM reveals Dan Snyder didn’t let him draft superstar NFL WR

The Washington Commanders are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys for the most nationally televised games on the 2025 NFL schedule. 

It’s the biggest proof of just how far the Commanders have come in such a short period of time. After decades of losing, dysfunction and drama both on and off the field, the Washington Commanders have morphed from one of the biggest laughing stock franchises in the NFL into a must-watch Super Bowl contender. 

In 2023, former owner Dan Snyder — who is widely regarded as one of the worst owners in the history of professional sports, across all leagues — finally sold the franchise for a record for more than $6 billion. 

Josh Harris, who owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, put together an ownership group where he’s the majority owner and other partners have a smaller stake in the team. 

Former NBA superstar Magic Johnson is one the most notable minority owners, but ultimately, Harris is making all the big decisions. He spearheaded the group that hired former 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters as the team’s GM, and Peters worked with Harris and company to land on Dan Quinn as the head coach. Quinn then put together an impressive coaching staff with former NFL head coaches and longtime veterans. 

Off the field, Harris has made massive upgrades to the current home stadium at Northwest Field and the team’s headquarters and practice facilities in Ashburn, Va. He’s also played a pivotal role in helping bring the NFL Draft to Washington D.C. and reach a deal to bring a new stadium back to the old RFK site in 2030. 

While QB Jayden Daniels is the biggest reason the Commanders are getting so many primetime games in 2025, with the must-see rookie coming off a historic campaign where he led Washington to the NFC Championship game, the quick turnaround comes from the top down. 

For so many years, Snyder meddled in decision-making and overruled coaches and general managers when it came to key moves. 

Former Washington Commanders GM Scott McCloughan joined the Kevin Sheehan show on the TEAM 980 in D.C. on Thursday and shined light into one of the crazy decisions Snyder overruled him on. 

After a discussion about the 2025 NFL Draft, Sheehan, who is a Maryland alum, mentioned Washington passing over Stefon Diggs in 2015, and instead selecting Jamison Crowder. 

“That 2015 Draft, I was screaming Diggs,” Sheehan told McCloughan. 

And then McCloughan gave yet another example of Snyder making a terrible decision for the franchise. 

“If I could tell you the story I would, but I can’t on radio. I was told I couldn’t by the owner,” the former Commanders GM said. “He was sitting next to me when the scout told me I couldn’t take him. I wanted Diggs, he was the highest rated on my board at the time.” 

Diggs is currently preparing for his 11th NFL season. He has 10,491 receiving yards and 70 touchdowns in his career so far.