For the first time in 10 years, the Redskins’ left tackle spot features uncertainty. Trent Williams has not been with the team for OTAs and minicamp and is reported to be unhappy with the organization, to the point he wants to leave.
While the 10th-year blocker’s dissatisfaction with the Redskins regarding their handling of his most recent medical situation — having a growth removed from his head — may not be the driving force of his absence.
Williams may be upset with the team over the recent medical developments, but J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington notes the seven-time Pro Bowler’s holdout stems from his contract. This was the initial view of Williams’ minicamp absence, and the medical component in this situation may have made it worse.
The Redskins extended Williams in 2015. The five-year, $66MM deal made him the NFL’s highest-paid tackle. From a AAV standpoint, his contract has not been significantly diminished by recent tackle deals. The soon-to-be 31-year-old lineman still sits seventh among tackles at $13.2MM per year, and $24MM remains on the contract. However, the contract the Raiders gave Trent Brown did change the marketplace a bit. The $16.5MM-AAV pact for a non-Pro Bowler was eye-opening, but the Raiders had plenty of cap space and spent it wildly this offseason.
Redskins president Bruce Allen addressed the situation but declined to go into detail. The longtime Washington executive did say he has spoken with Williams a few times this year.
“I know what Trent told me so I know what the truth is,” Allen said, via Finlay. “I’ll leave my conversation with Trent between the two of us. Trent has been a valuable player for us and that’s why we signed him to the contract he has.”
An argument against a new contract would be Williams’ injury trouble in recent years. He missed three games last season and six in 2017 and has not played 16 games since the 2014 season. A four-game substance-abuse suspension interrupted his 2016 slate. But the Redskins did not address their tackle situation much this offseason. They signed Ereck Flowers, who has been moved to guard, and did not draft a tackle. They did attempt to claim 2018 Browns starter Desmond Harrison, but the Cardinals beat them to it.
Where is the logic in drafting a QB in the first round if you intend to leave a gaping hole at the LT position? If they lose Williams the Redskins will be hauling QBs off the field on stretchers on a weekly basis.
Honestly, they did it last year with him.
That’s right…..
I find contract hold outs fascinating. I wonder what would happen if a team refused to pay a guy what the contract says because he sucked the year before.
I’m hoping this is sarcasm
I guess he just passes over the articles where players are asked to take pay cuts or re-structure to free up more cap space.
They do it all the time. It’s called “take a pay cut or you’re gone!”
That just happened to, if I recall, a Carolina WR. Dropped $3-4m per season. A ‘haircut’ is the preferred term.
With 2 years left and at 31 years old, Trent has ZERO leverage here. By the time he will see a new contract he’ll be 33 and on the backside of his career.
Skins might get him an extra signing bonus or some sort of incentive clause, but they have zero reason to renegotiate with him. You cave here and you can expect him to do it every year til he retires. He still paid very well for his,position and carries an injury risk. Skins need to play hardball here. If it means starting a new tackle…so be it. Trent won’t be gone long once he starts missing game checks.
Exactly. The man has a nice contract. Man up and honor it!
Tell the teams that CUT players with 2-3 years left on contracts to “man up” and honor them.
He has $0 left in guaranteed money for the remaining 2-years of his contract. The same is true for Detroit Lions Darius Slay and Damon Harrison. I think this is less about a huge payday and more about getting some guaranteed $$.
For the Redskins part, they’re going to pay Alex Smith $31M in guaranteed $$ for 2019/2020 and he may never take another snap for them.
Alex Smith signed a contract to give him that money. The Skins get to take the L on that. They have no reason to take another L on someone who’s already under contract because they aren’t happy with their contract. Trent can either play or not. Bell’s ordeal with the Steelers told everyone they can get what they want. Snyder better show everyone thats not true. Release him so he can sign with Carolina and lose. Lol