The 1996 Sean Gilbert Trade: Washington Turned the No. 6 Pick Into an Established Defensive Lineman
Washington sent the sixth overall pick to St. Louis for Sean Gilbert. The Rams used it on Lawrence Phillips, while Washington later extracted even more value from Gilbert.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1996 1st round pick (6th overall, Lawrence Phillips)
Washington Commanders Received
- player Sean Gilbert
Trade Summary
Washington acquired Sean Gilbert from the Rams for the No. 6 pick in the 1996 draft, which St. Louis used on Lawrence Phillips. The Rams took a high-risk running back who became one of the most damaging draft misses of the era. Washington got the established defensive lineman and later leveraged Gilbert's value into even more draft capital, making this a clear Washington win in hindsight.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Washington sent the No. 6 overall pick in the 1996 draft to the St. Louis Rams for defensive lineman Sean Gilbert. The Rams used that selection on Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips. At the time, the exchange was a classic choice between a known NFL player and the upside of a premium draft pick: Washington wanted immediate help for a defense that had struggled against the run, while St. Louis wanted a young offensive centerpiece.
Why Washington Preferred the Veteran
Gilbert had already established himself as a high-level defensive lineman and had made a Pro Bowl before the trade. Washington therefore removed much of the uncertainty that comes with a top-six pick. The club knew the kind of player it was acquiring, and Gilbert gave the defensive front immediate credibility.
The longer asset chain made Washington's side even stronger. After a contract dispute and a season away from the field, Gilbert became a franchise-tagged player. Carolina signed him in 1998, and Washington received two first-round picks as compensation. That later development does not change the original 1996 exchange, but it shows how much residual asset value Washington retained in the player.
What Went Wrong for the Rams
St. Louis received an extremely valuable draft slot and used it on Phillips, whose NFL career never came close to the expectations attached to the sixth overall pick. The problem was not the concept of trading a veteran for a top pick; it was the realized value of the player chosen with that pick.
A premium selection can outperform almost any veteran acquisition if it becomes a long-term star. Here, the opposite happened. Washington received the established contributor, while the Rams absorbed the downside of draft risk.
Final Verdict
Washington wins clearly. The Rams acquired the more flexible asset on draft day, but Phillips did not become the franchise player that a No. 6 selection needed to be. Gilbert provided immediate NFL value and later generated additional first-round compensation, giving Washington the stronger outcome both on the field and in the asset chain.