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Every NFL team’s worst trade of all-time (Updated)

By Randy Gurzi

Steve Young #8, Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feeds the ball to Running Back #32 James Wilder during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 5 October 1986 at the Anaheim Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Rams won the game 26 - 20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)
Steve Young #8, Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feeds the ball to Running Back #32 James Wilder during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 5 October 1986 at the Anaheim Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Rams won the game 26 - 20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 05: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet site on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 5, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 05: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet site on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 5, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals: Giving up on Charlie Joiner

Usually when a team trades a player for a first-round pick, it ends up being a decent move. That is unless the team whiffs on the pick and the player they ship off winds up making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That’s exactly what happened when the Cincinnati Bengals sent wide receiver Charlie Joiner to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for Coy Bacon and a first-round pick.

Bacon played on the defensive line, but spent just two seasons in Cincinnati after the trade. The Bengals used the pick they received on a wideout to replace Joiner, which ended up being Williams Brooks. He was with the Bengals for four seasons, but had a minimal impact on the team.

As for Joiner, he went on to play 11 seasons in San Diego. During that time, he made three Pro Bowls and finished his Hall of Fame career with 750 receptions for 12,146 yards and 65 touchdowns. What’s worse is he was no slouch with Cincinnati. They just didn’t utilize the former defensive back turned wide receiver nearly enough.

If we were to go beyond actual trades, the Bengals could be ridiculed for a non-move. In 1999, they had the third overall pick and received a huge offer from the New Orleans Saints to move down.

Cincinnati stayed put and took quarterback Akili Smith, who wound up being one of the biggest busts in their history. They could have done much better with the entire Saints draft that former head coach Mike Ditka was throwing out there.

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