Cincinnati traded defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson to…
Cincinnati traded defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson to Washington in February 1998 for the 17th and 78th picks. The Bengals selected linebacker Brian Simmons and guard Mike Goff, both long-term starters, while Wilkinson gave Washington several solid seasons in the middle of its defensive line. Washington received a useful veteran, but Cincinnati turned one player into two durable building blocks and wins the trade in hindsight.
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- pick 1998 1st round pick (17th overall, Brian Simmons)
- pick 1998 3rd round pick (78th overall, Mike Goff)
Washington Commanders Received
- player Dan Wilkinson
Trade Analysis
Washington made the aggressive move in February 1998, sending the 17th and 78th selections to Cincinnati for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson. The former No. 1 overall pick was still only 24 and had already shown that he could handle a heavy workload inside. Washington was trying to remake its front after adding Dana Stubblefield, so the logic was straightforward: spend draft capital on a proven young veteran rather than wait for two rookies to develop. Wilkinson did become a multi-year starter and provided legitimate interior production.
Cincinnati still came away with the better long-term return. The Bengals used No. 17 on linebacker Brian Simmons, who became a fixture in the middle of their defense for nearly a decade. At No. 78 they selected guard Mike Goff, another durable starter who remained with Cincinnati for six seasons before continuing a long NFL career elsewhere. Neither became a transcendent superstar, but getting two dependable starters from one outgoing player is exactly the kind of roster-building result that compounds over time.
Washington's side should not be graded as a disaster. Wilkinson started consistently, played several seasons for the franchise and later remained a productive NFL defensive tackle. The problem is opportunity cost. A first-round pick plus a third is a substantial price, and the Redskins were not one veteran tackle away from contention; they finished 6-10 in 1998 and continued to churn personnel. Cincinnati, meanwhile, extracted both quantity and longevity. Simmons and Goff collectively provided far more team-controlled seasons than Wilkinson gave Washington. That makes the Bengals the clear winner and supports an A, while Washington's tangible but insufficient return fits a C rather than an outright failing grade.