It appears Trent Williams and the Washington Redskins are set to end their one-year long standoff with each other. The Redskins are granting Williams approval to seek a trade on his own, and the disgruntled left tackle is “happy” the situation is seemingly coming to an end, according to ESPN’s John Keim.
Of course there are multiple variables necessary for both sides to be happy with a resolve.
First, Williams will need to find a team willing to give him a contract extension. According to reports, the seven-time Pro Bowler is seeking a long-term commitment at top market rate for an offensive tackle. That could be as much as $19-20 million per year.
Williams will turn 32 years of age in July. He hasn’t played a down in the NFL in over a year, missing the entire 2019 season due to his displeasure with the Redskins training staff and front office and his contract demands.
He is also coming off a set of procedures to address a scary situation with a cancerous growth on his scalp that initially led to his standoff with the team. Additionally, Williams has fought through a series of injuries that has forced him to miss games in each of the previous three seasons he was active.
Teams may also be concerned with the fact Williams is a failed test with the league’s substance abuse policy from being suspended a full year.
Thus after all of that, any team that is willing to extend Williams must pony up the trade value the Redskins are willing to agree to.
Washington does not have a second-round pick in this year’s draft due to the Montez Sweat trade in last year’s draft. Presumably, the Redskins will try to recoup the missing pick as part of any potential deal.
Barring a miracle, Williams will not be wearing a Redskins uniform in 2020. And after a year full of headlines, both he and the team want a suitable end to the saga.
