I see people here complaining that we never win anything and never advance in the post season. Some of those same people root for mediocrity and cherish every win in a horrible year. Fewer wins equal higher draft position.
I just looked up the regular season win totals from 2000 through 2018 and we had the 13th most wins during that time. Easily in the top half.
If you look at 2010-2018 we actually were even better at 11th overall in regular season wins. The problem, as I see it is that we are seldom terrible. Mediocrity leaves you with a middle of the round draft pick? Where most of the blue chip players are already gone.
What would this team have looked like with Aaron Donald? Khalil Mack? Etc.
Kahlil Mack as a member of the Raiders
2014: 3-13
2015: 7-9
2016: 12-4, 2nd AFC West - remember, QB Carr went down in game 16, then backup QB injured in game 17. Rookie QB started first ever NFL game in the home wildcard loss.
2017: 6-10
2018: just before that season started (Sept. 1st) Mack is traded to the Bears
who then went 12-4, 1st NFC North, lost home wildcard game.
2019: 8-8
2020: 5-6, started 5-1, have lost 5 straight since - we know what their problems are
Aaron Donald with the Rams
2014: 6-10
2015: 7-9
2016: 4-12 ...remember who was the head coach?
2017: 11-5, 1st NFC West, loss home wildcard
2018: 13-3, 1st NFC West, NFC Champions, Super Bowl Runner-up
2019: 9-7, 3rd NFC West
2020: 7-4, 2nd NFC West
No matter how great Mack and Donald are, their careers as perennial all-pro, top-ten status as the league's best players....they haven't transformed their teams into consistent NFL Championship contenders.