It doesn’t look like the Trent Williams situation is going to be resolved any time soon, and recent reports suggest that a marriage between him and the Washington Redskins will not be in the future, as the two sides remain far apart when it comes to a financial agreement.
So with Williams demanding top-of-the-market money, and the Redskins refusing to pay that price, the two sides are in yet another staring contest that could last throughout the offseason. I’m not sure which side will break first, if either, but it brings up an interesting question that needs to be considered in Washington.
Does the potential loss of Williams make the Redskins reconsider who they pick at No. 2 in the NFL Draft?
The two may seem unrelated, and you may think it’s a crazy idea to pass up on Chase Young if given the chance to select a perennial pass-rusher. This, though, has more to do with what the Redskins plan to do at the left tackle position should Williams be traded away, and whether or not Washington would consider using their draft leverage to fill a need rather than build on an already solid position group. The Redskins don’t have any depth at the position, and the free agency market isn’t ripe with offers that blow you away. That leaves the draft.
Over the past week, the Redskins have created some buzz by kicking the tires on Tua Tagovailoa, which is likely being done in order to keep the trade value of their No. 2 pick as high as possible. Fans of the ‘best player available’ draft model believe that Young is the clear-cut answer, but supporters of the ‘draft for need’ strategy may have a strong case here.
Should Trent be traded away, the Redskins NEED a left tackle, and one who can start right away — not someone drafted in the middle to late rounds. If Washington were to trade the No. 2 pick to Miami, for example, they may be able to get the No. 5 overall pick, as well as another first-rounder, and potentially a whole lot more. With one of the first-rounders, likely No. 18, the Redskins could draft an OT who has a high upside and a chance to become the teams’ next great lineman — think Andrew Thomas, Mekhi Becton, or Jedrick Wills. With the No. 5 pick, they could take Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, the draft’s best linebacker who has seen his stock continue to soar through the NFL Combine. These two selections would go a long way in filling two of the Redskins’ biggest needs on the roster.
This all becomes irrelevant if the Redskins are able to work out a future with Williams, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. Washington has an easy fix to some of their roster problems; they just have to pass on Chase Young in order to make it work.
That’s a big risk to take.
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