Trent Williams and the Washington Redskins are still at a standstill. The saga is lingering into a second off-season and Williams’ agent, Vincent Taylor, wants a resolution.
Earlier this week he demanded Williams be traded or released in a statement. He accused the Redskins of not acting in good faith in trying to trade the seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle.
Thursday, Taylor appeared on 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier, insisting the Redskins have stood in the way of a potential trade and “the contract has never been the holdup.”
Paulsen brought to Taylor’s attention of reports that Williams was seeking to be the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL by pursuing a deal worth $20 million per year.
“That is not true,” Taylor refuted the reports. “That is totally false.”
Paulsen followed by asking would they be okay if the Cleveland Browns wanted to trade for Williams but pay him an average of $16 million?
“If we could get to a point where we could talk about those numbers, that would not be a holdup for us,” Taylor said. “The contract has never been the holdup.”
Taylor acknowledged the Redskins hadn’t received any offers during the NFL Scouting Combine. However, he claims that two teams called him and relayed “the compensation that they were asking for was totally absurd.”
Taylor’s claims contradict what Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported a day earlier:
“There have been suitors out there for TW. The trouble isāand I’ll be very clear about thisāalmost 100% his contract situationā¦ The Redskins found interest over the last few weeks in Williams, only to have suitors push away from the table when apprised of his financial demands.”
The Redskins have reportedly sought a second-round pick in negotiations to no avail. A hefty price for a disgruntled player, who missed all of last season, coming off a major health scare and seeking a new contract.
However, the Redskins have leverage in the situation. Williams is still has one year remaining on his current deal. And the new CBA ratified earlier this month makes holding out much harder for a player.
According to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, there is a chance the Redskins come down from their hope of a second-round pick in return. But, it would have to be “something comparable in value.”
“It’s just best that they release him at this point,” Taylor told 106.7 the Fan.
Unfortunately for Taylor and Williams, the Redskins releasing Williams is highly unlikely.
