The Trent Williams saga continues a trade between the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings fell through Friday. According to an NFL Network report, Williams did not want to play for the Vikings, effectively nixing the trade. However, the left tackle denies the report is true
“No, that’s not true,” Williams told ESPN’s John Keim.
However, according to Keim potential trade partners were informed at some point Friday that Williams did not want to play for Minnesota. Although, the Vikings were initially a preferred destination for Williams.
A source told ESPN that the Vikings had been among the preferred destinations for Williams and that the teams had discussed a deal for more than a month. But they did not come close to anything until Friday morning, when Minnesota increased its offer to include a second Day 3 draft pick, sources said. The Vikings had previously offered one pick on the third day.
If the Vikings were a preferred destination, then what changed?
According to Keim, the Vikings added an additional Day 3 draft to their initial offer that should have closed the deal. Could it have been a financial matter, if Williams indeed did not want to play for the Vikings?
Or could Williams be telling the truth?
Williams’ agent Vincent Taylor has accused the Redskins in not acting in good faith in the past. Saturday he released a short statement calling reports “false reporting.”
“There has been false reporting that Trent and I objected to particular trades,” Taylor said in the statement. “I will continue to continue to respect the Redskins right to negotiate a trade, and hope that negotiations quickly lead to a trade that is in the Redskins interest, Trent’s interest, and the interest of the other team.”
The narrative drummed up will favor the Redskins. Nonetheless, the bottom line is Williams has not been traded. The saga between he and the team has carried over into a second offseason. Thus, it will remain the top storyline for the Redskins in Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
