As is usually the case in Washington, the most pertinent news is regarding Trent Williams, and what the Redskins plan to do with him going forward.
The last week of Trent Williams updates has been a bit wild, and it’s ranged from him having a solid relationship with Ron Rivera to him requesting a trade should the team not give him what he desires — a lot of money. Though we don’t know the details of the conversations that are taking place behind closed doors in Washington, there are seemingly a few ways that this situation could play out over the coming weeks and months. Let’s break them down.
Agree on a Contract Extension
This seems like the most likely course of action, though it will be the riskiest solution for the Redskins as well. As it stands now, Washington doesn’t have a plan at the left tackle position outside of Williams, and it would be the easiest fix to pay him a mega-contract and bring him back into the locker room, giving them one of the best LTs in the game back on their front line.
This, of course, comes with a couple of downsides. For one, Williams reportedly desires to become the highest-paid LT in the NFL, which would likely mean receiving $19-20 million per season. At the moment, that highest-paid title goes to Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson, who signed a $72 million deal with $25 million guaranteed. Houston Texans’ Laremy Tunsil is also set to be extended soon for a similar deal, which could only raise Williams’ price.
Secondly, there is no guarantee that Williams will be one of the best blockers in the NFL when he returns, even if the Redskins pay him as such. The last game he played was in December of 2018, and that was before having surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his scalp. Williams would undoubtedly be a huge improvement on whatever backup plan the Redskins have for the left tackle position, but he’s no guarantee to return to his Pro Bowl level of play.
If the Redskins don’t offer an extension to Williams ahead of the 2020 season, they could be facing another holdout, unless they decide to find a trade partner.
Look to Trade Him
There has been an active trade market around Williams over the last year as his relationship with the Redskins was publically frayed, though there seems to be tempered interest at the current moment. It’s extremely possible that the Redskins could deal Williams this offseason and get back a package of draft picks or maybe a player in return, but that doesn’t solve any issues in Washington. Should you go this route, what’s the next step of your plan? Who do you have to play LT?
With the expected selection of Chase Young at No. 2, and no second-round pick, the earliest that Washington could draft an LT this season would be in the third round, and you’re unlikely to find a first-year starter that deep into the draft. The Redskins could choose to trade back and select a top-end LT in the draft, but then they would miss out on Young and the hype that comes with him. The Redskins could also look for a left tackle in free agency this year, but nobody on the market comes close to rivaling Williams’ talent.
Play the Waiting Game
This seems like the least likely option for the Redskins, but it could potentially work out in the end. Should Washington choose not to extend Williams, they could keep him on the roster and hope that he’d be willing to play, though that seems unlikely. The team could then look to draft a tackle in 2021, and they would likely get a valuable compensatory pick for Williams once he leaves in free agency.
This seems a bit negligent, though, as the team arguably played the waiting game in 2019 and it didn’t work out too well.
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