Maturing is realizing that in the NFL, you can go from bad to a contender—or a contender to bad—in a single season.
Going 0-17 is far more valuable than finishing 7-10, 8-9, or 9-8 if you're not going to contend anyway.
If the season is lost, the priority should be maximizing your chances of landing an elite, immediate-impact player. Especially someone like Jeremiah Smith, who could give Justin Herbert the generational weapon this offense desperately needs.
Look at the Chargers right now. They're running out Cole Strange and four rookies on the offensive line, with Quentin Johnston as their top receiving option. This roster has been so decimated that contending simply isn't realistic.
So why settle for meaningless wins that leave you picking in the middle of the first round when you could increase your chances of landing a franchise-altering talent?
A competent GM can dramatically improve an offensive line in one offseason. Add a generational receiver to that equation, and the turnaround can happen FAST.
Being terrible in 2026 and competing in 2027 isn't some delusional fantasy. It's entirely possible in the NFL.
If the Chargers aren't going to contend this season, every loss brings them one step closer to a potentially franchise-changing draft pick.
For 2026, stop confusing a meaningless win with progress. Every loss is a win in the big picture.
"They're gonna win a Stanley Cup before the end of the decade. "
Dieter Kurtenbach gave the @KNBRoffair boys a BOLD sharks prediction. There will be a parade in San Jose by 2029.
Full episode with @dieter ⬇️https://t.co/Bejb9sXkKS
After securing the No. 1 overall selection in 2024 and the No. 2 overall selection in 2025, the San Jose Sharks have secured the No. 2 overall selection in the 2026 NHL draft‼️