Way back in 1996 – thirty years ago today exactly – Washington began the Redskins Sean Gilbert roller coaster ride. Washington traded their sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft to acquire defensive tackle Sean Gilbert from the LA Rams.
Gilbert made an immediate impact with the Rams after the team selected him third overall in the 1992 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. Gilbert earned NFL All-Rookie honors in 1992. He made the Pro Bowl in 1993, after leading the Rams with 10.5 sacks that season. He spent four seasons with Los Angeles, establishing himself as one of the most physically dominant interior linemen in the league.
However, the Rams signed Pro Bowl end Leslie O’Neal and considered Gilbert expendable. They traded him to the Redskins on April 8, 1996, for the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.
Started Well
Gilbert had a strong debut season with the Redskins — 113 tackles, 3 sacks and Pro Bowl alternate recognition — but the relationship quickly soured over a contract dispute. Washington tagged him as their franchise player, but Gilbert refused the $3.4 million tender and sat out the entire 1997 season rather than play under it. Washington tagged him again in 1998, and Gilbert challenged it through arbitration. Carolina made him an offer of 7 years, $46.5 million And Washington declined to match the offer. As compensation, Washington received two first-round picks from the Panthers.
So in summary — Washington gave up the sixth overall pick to get Gilbert, got one solid season out of him, lost him for a season to a contract dispute, and then “lost him” to Carolina in a contract standoff. Seriously, thank you Carolina. We still appreciate this. The two compensatory first-rounders were unbelievable compensation for a deal that didn’t go remotely as planned.
The Gilbert Swap Yields Major Dividends
The story gets better. Washington received the fifth overall pick in the 1999 Draft and the 12th overall pick in the 2000 draft as their compensation for Gilbert.
That fifth overall pick in 1999 turned into one of the biggest trades of all time in the NFL. Washington traded New Orleans that 5th pick overall for the Saints’ ENTIRE draft in 1999 plus two picks in 2000 – all to move up seven picks. Mike Ditka really wanted running back Ricky Williams. The Redskins selected Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey at number seven with their own pick and traded the 12th they got from the Saints for quarterback Cade McKown.
One of the two 2000 picks was the second overall – which Washington used to draft Lavar Arrington.
Washington also used the 12th overall pick in 2000 that they received for Gilbert, to bundle with their own 1st round pick (24th), a 4th round pick, and a 5th round pick, to attain the 3rd overall pick in 2000. After picking Arrington with the #2 pick, Washington selected Chris Samuels with the very next pick – #3 overall – in arguably the most exciting Draft day in Redskins history.
Samuels contributed more than any other name in the mix, manning the left tackle spot for a decade.
The Gilbert Yield
Obviously there are other pieces of the puzzle that make it less cut and dried than the following incredible statement:
Washington got Lavar Arrington and Chris Samels, quarterback Cade McKown (from the Bears) as well as an entire slate of 1999 selections, for Sean Gilbert’s compensation. That’s a haul. The trade is widely considered one of the most lopsided and infamous in NFL history, as it remains the only time a team has traded its entire draft for one player.
Despite the frustration that every Redskin fan felt in that 1997 season that Gilbert declined to play, eventually it was almost all worth it.
Notes:
The entire Ricky Williams Yield at a glance
1999 first round pick (12th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Cade McNown)
1999 third round pick (71st overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select D'Wayne Bates)
1999 fourth round pick (107th overall, used to select Nate Stimson)
1999 fifth round pick (144th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Khari Samuel)
1999 sixth round pick (179th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Desmond Clark)
1999 seventh round pick (218th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Billy Miller)
2000 first round pick (2nd overall, used to select LaVar Arrington)
2000 third round pick (64th overall, used to select Lloyd Harrison)