Why Redskins should/shouldn’t part with Trent Williams
Reasons to part with Trent Williams
Contract Price/Cap hit
In August of 2015, Williams signed a five-year extension worth $66 million with the Redskins. This deal made Williams the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. Now this offseason, Williams is looking for another contract extension.
According to J.P. Finlay, Williams is asking for such a large contract that saying the amount would incite a riot. While Williams has ample talent, giving a player who will be 32 years old before the start of the season a massive contract is a very questionable thing to do. Looking in free agency and the draft for cheaper players may be viable options to save money, though you may not find a player of Williams’ caliber for cheap.
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When looking at the cap hit Williams carries into this season, that would open the Redskins to even more possibilities in free agency. According to Spotrac, Williams would be a $14.5 million cap hit this season with a dead cap of $2 million. If the Redskins can clear Williams $14.5 million before free agency that would give then around $75 million in cap space ranking them fifth among all NFL teams.
Playing time concerns
Injuries have been a big part of Williams’ career. In Williams’ nine NFL seasons, he has only played two full 16-game seasons and 120 of his 144 overall.
In 2015, Williams missed two games dealing with pain to his head, knee, and back. The next year, Williams missed four games due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. In 2017, Williams was playing injured for multiple games. He ended up missing six games overall due to a knee injury that ultimately required surgery.
With left tackle being an important position on the offensive line, the Redskins need to have a reliable option there. With Dwayne Haskins entering his second season, the Redskins cannot afford to let him down by not having a player who can start all 16 games next season protecting his blindside.
Draft Capital
When Williams was on the market last offseason the Redskins were hesitant to trade him. According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Browns offered the Redskins as high as a first-round pick for Williams at the beginning of last season. The Washington Redskins asking price for Williams is reportedly a trade package similar to what the Texans got in exchange for Duane Brown.
With the first-round draft picks likely being off the table for Williams, the Redskins may be able to get as high as a second-round pick for him if not multiple later-day picks.
Ron Rivera has expressed his displeasure with the Redskins not having the early second-round pick that was packaged in the deal for the Colts’ first-round pick last offseason that allowed the Redskins to select Montez Sweat.
Next. Redskins post-combine targets by position. dark
If Ron Rivera and Kyle Smith do not see Williams as being a part of this team going forward, accumulating a second-round pick and may be enough for Rivera to pull the trigger on this trade.