u/Romofan88

Chris Weinke's 2-18 record stands as the worst through 20 games, but Ward is now past that post and into the great beyond. The previous worst 21 game start was a tie between Ryan Leaf and Dave Klingler, who both started their careers 4-17.

Until a few days ago, I had never heard of Sean Gilbert. But now that I know about him, I think he might be the most interesting relatively obscure player ever.

After 4 solid years with the Rams including a pro bowl appearance in 1993, Washington traded the 6th overall pick in the 1996 draft to LA for Gilbert. Gilbert was solid for Washington in 96, finishing the year as a pro bowl alternate.

They used the franchise tag on him in 1997, but he didn't play on it, becoming the last player to hold out an entire season until Le'Veon Bell in 2018. In 1998 they tagged him again, this time using the non-exclusive franchise tag. For those who may not be aware, when a player is on the NEFT, any team may negotiate with them and the team that tagged him can match that offer. But if the team that tagged DOESN'T match, the team that signs the player owes them 2 1st round picks. It's basically unheard of for it to come to that today, Lamar's contract situation back in 2023 being the closest we've seen. But back in 1998, Carolina took the plunge, and signed Gilbert to a 7 year, 46.5 million dollar contract, making him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history and giving Washington their 1st rounders in 1999 and 2000 to do it. Those picks turned out to be the 5th overall pick in 1999 and the 12th overall pick in 2000.

This is why I'm surprised Gilbert's name doesn't come up more, because I feel like he should be near-universally agreed to be the worst free agent signing of all time. A market setting deal for a player that ended up being just ok isn't great, but nothing to write home about. But doing so at the cost of 2 1st rounders, one of which was top 5? A complete disaster.

But that isn't where the story ends. That 5th overall pick Washington got from Carolina in 1999 ended up being the pick that Ditka infamous traded his entire 1999 draft for, as well as his 1st and 3rd in 2000.

So all told, Washington turned Gilbert into 3 1sts, 2 3rds, a 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th. That's a package that rivals Hershel Walker, and it's for a player no one has ever heard of!

I don't think a player that's on field career is pretty tame has ever had THIS much capital change hands for them, as well as so many intersecting stories.

MVP-Cam Newton

OPOY-Cam

DPOY-Luke Kuechly

OROY-Cam, Tetairoa McMillan

DROY-Kuechly, Julius Peppers

CPOTY-Steve Smith

WPMOTY-Thomas Davis

COY-Dom Capers, Ron Rivera

EOTY-Bill Polian, David Gettleman

The other 3 are the Cowboys, Colts, and Dolphins, who all have existed for more than double the length of time the Panthers have. The Steelers could be argued as a 5th with an asterisk since Antonio Brown won the Sporting News OPOY.

Special shoutout to the Dolphins who are 9/9 thanks to 1987 OROY Troy Stradford, who I found out existed while searching to see if any teams other than Carolina and Dallas hit all 9.