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Four possible outcomes for the Redskins’ Trent Williams conundrum

By Tim Payne

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 11: Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins reacts after Robert Alford #23 of the Atlanta Falcons returned an interception for a touchdown in their 25-19 loss at Georgia Dome on October 11, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 11: Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins reacts after Robert Alford #23 of the Atlanta Falcons returned an interception for a touchdown in their 25-19 loss at Georgia Dome on October 11, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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All bets are off when it comes to the Trent Williams situation with the Redskins, but it’s time to place your wagers on what happens next.

After over a year of drama concerning Trent Williams‘ relationship with the Redskins, signs are pointing to a resolution finally coming this week surrounding the NFL Draft. Three realistic possibilities have emerged to go along with one long-shot.

Which one will happen is anybody’s guess, but in honor of the guys at the Redskins Talk Podcast and the late, great Rich Tandler, here are my bets on each happening, poker-chip style.

1. Williams is traded before the draft

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Rumblings continue to swirl about interest by teams like the Browns and Vikings. Frankly, every team in the league who thinks they can contend this year is probably interested. Compensation for the Redskins and Trent’s contract demands are certainly impacting overall interest, though, and it ends up seeming pretty unlikely that any team will give up capital before at least watching how the first round goes on Thursday. I’m putting 10 chips on this scenario.

2. Williams is traded during the draft

With the significant drop-off in talent among the tackles in this draft, it’s very possible that a team expecting to land a solid left tackle in the mid-to-late first round of the draft ends up being boxed out. If that is the case, it’s a very real possibility the Redskins begin to receive offers of a Day 2 pick in this year’s draft for Williams.

Given the approach Ron Rivera has taken to this offseason, I find it unlikely that he will settle for a lesser pick in this year’s draft if he gets offered a first- or second-rounder in the 2021 draft. In either case, if he gets a second-rounder in either this year’s draft or next year’s draft, I am betting he takes it. This scenario gets 50 chips from me. I think there’s a 50/50 chance he gets traded sometime late Thursday night or Friday.

3. Williams is traded shortly after the draft

Essentially the same conversation as him being traded during the draft, this would be to a team who missed out on the tackles they targeted in the draft, who thinks they could compete immediately. Several experts have pegged Trent Williams as more valuable than any tackle in this draft, even factoring in salary and age, so would a team like the 49ers or Vikings be willing to mortgage a little bit of their future to lock down the most important part of their offensive line for the next three to five years?

There’s a significant chance this happens, netting the Redskins one or more premium picks in the 2021 draft. I’m pushing in 35 chips on this scenario. So, if you’re tracking along, that means I’ve got 95 chips down on Trent being traded by Sunday.

4. Williams sticks in Washington past May

And then there’s the outside, bizarro-world possibility that somehow Trent ends up on the Redskins’ roster through the summer. The Redskins seem prepared to hold firm on their trade demands and not simply dump Trent for a late-round pick or replacement-level player. And frankly, I think that’s the correct approach.

The same culture build that dumped the talented but mouthy and oft-injured Quinton Dunbar for a fifth-round pick very reasonably also holds firm and demands more value for Williams. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler under contract at a good price who is well-liked in the locker room and quiet on social media. If Williams stays under contract with the promise of getting moved as soon as a legit offer comes, he won’t be a distraction in the locker room. And holding firm on the value of a player is definitely the kind of cultural tenet that Ron Rivera is going to want to espouse.

The Redskins may just opt to keep Williams on the roster into training camp and look to trade him in-season once the injury bug increases his value. Likely? No. Possible? For sure. Put those final 5 chips on the table on this long-shot.

Next. Top prospects for Redskins to target by round. dark

There it is. The best bets and a flyer on the Trent Williams conundrum. Keep an eye out for what happens in the coming days.

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