The Cleveland Browns have emerged as a possible landing spot and trade option for Trent Williams and the Washington Redskins. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns will revisit their interest in Williams as well as former Philadelphia Eagles’ left tackle Jason Peters to block the blindside of quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Coincidentally, both Williams and Peters are represented by the same agent, Vince Taylor.
Peters and the Eagles “mutually agreed” to part ways after 11 seasons together.
Williams is owed a non-guaranteed $12.5 million in the final year of a five-year deal he signed in 2016. However, he is seeking a long-term deal that Washington is unwilling to commit. According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Redskins have granted Williams permission to seek a trade.
The Browns would have to work out a deal with Williams and then a trade with the Redskins to land the seven-time Pro Bowler.
The Browns tried to trade for Williams before last year’s October deadline through former GM John Dorsey. Williams sat out the entire 2019 season over a medical dispute with the Redskins’ medical staff surrounding a misdiagnosis of a cancerous growth on his scalp. The growth was surgically removed.
After being unwilling to trade Williams, former team president Bruce Allen made Williams available just before the trade deadline. Yet, the Browns and Redskins were unable to work out a deal. The Browns considered the Redskins’ asking price as “steep,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Redskins were asking for players such as stud cornerback Denzel Ward in return.
Following the firing of Allen and hiring of head coach Ron Rivera in February, the Redskins tried to soothe tension between Williams and the team. Their efforts included a face-to-face meeting between Rivera and Williams. However, Williams later informed the team he still wanted to be traded after Washington balked at his request for a new contract.
Presumably, Peters would be more of a bargain option given he is 38 years of age and will be a free agent. Williams, 31, is seeking a top-market deal and Cleveland or any other team will have to send Washington trade assets.
But, the Browns recently hired Bill Callahan as their offensive line coach. Callahan coached Williams from 2015-18 in Washington, as Williams made the Pro Bowl in each season. Callahan also served as Washington’s interim head coach for the final 11 games last season. Given their history, there could be a level of interest from the longtime offensive line coach to reunite.
