Trent Williams - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Redskins’ Trent Williams

October 31st, 2019 at 4:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins informed Trent Williams‘ agent that the left tackle passed all parts of his physical, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. However, Williams said that he was in pain (due to his surgery) after trying to put on his helmet, which the Redskins are considering as part of the physical.

The Redskins are now on the clock with two weeks to find a helmet that doesn’t hurt Williams. If they can’t find a helmet that doesn’t cause pain by the time his roster exemption expires, and he refuses to play, the team will be forced to put him on the NFI (non-football injury) list, at which point they can decide whether or not to continue paying him. In either case, as Rapoport reports, his contract will not toll, meaning that he won’t be tethered to the Redskins beyond the 2020 season.

The Redskins did not move Williams before the 2019 deadline, but there are rumblings that they’ll try to trade him this offseason. Despite the Redskins’ lack of leverage in that scenario, Williams could still fetch a decent amount of draft capital: he’s among the better tackles in the game and he’ll have just one year left on his deal at $12.5MM.

Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowler, has missed 13 games over the last three seasons due to various injuries. He graded out as the league’s best overall tackle in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, and still managed to place No. 21 in a relatively down 2018.

Redskins Plan To Trade Trent Williams This Offseason?

October 30th, 2019 at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins ultimately held on to offensive tackle Trent Williams at the trade deadline, but the club is hoping to deal the veteran lineman this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Washington reportedly received a second-round offer from the Browns, but weren’t interested in moving Williams at that price. Instead, the team will carry Williams on its roster and attempt to trade him next February or March. At that point, Williams would have one year and $12.5MM in salary remaining on his contract.

The saga doesn’t simply end there, however. Williams failed his physical today after experiencing discomfort while putting on his helmet, and if the Redskins aren’t able to find a suitable helmet over the next few weeks, they will likely place Williams on the non-football injury list, ending his 2019 campaign before it begins, per Rapoport (Twitter link).

Williams, of course, underwent scalp surgery in April and had a benign growth removed. Even if Williams is placed on the NFI list, his contract will not toll, per RapSheet, although the Redskins could certainly be up for a legal challenge.

Redskins’ Trent Williams Fails Physical

October 30th, 2019 at 2:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Redskins tackle Trent Williams failed his physical, according to an announcement from the club. This means that Williams will not be able to play right away, despite having reported to the club on Tuesday.

Williams experienced discomfort while putting on his helmet, coach Bill Callahan told reporters. This likely means that Williams got the all clear from team doctors, but felt that he was unable to take the field.

The Redskins, meanwhile, have obtained a roster exemption for Williams. This, on the surface, means that the team can wait a week or more before activating him. Effectively, it means at least two weeks on the sidelines for Williams, since the Redskins will be on their bye after facing the Bills on Sunday.

The bigger picture is this: The Redskins can hypothetically stall things with Williams for at least three weeks and make the argument that his 2019 season should not count, for contractual purposes. That would allow the Redskins to keep his rights through 2021, rather than 2020.

Williams, 31, skipped out on the entire preseason before sitting out the first eight regular season games. The Redskins considered trading him just before the Tuesday trade deadline, but ultimately stood pat.

Latest On Trent Williams

October 29th, 2019 at 6:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Trent Williams reported to the Redskins on Tuesday, but his contract could still toll by a full year, Mike Florio of PFT writes. It has been assumed that by reporting before Week 10, Williams will ensure that he still gets credit for the 2019 year. However, the precedent of the Joey Galloway ruling doesn’t necessarily cover him – the Redskins could delay him by using a roster exemption for up to three weeks, giving him fewer than eight weeks on the roster. And, if they do that, the Redskins could argue that 2019 does not count on Williams’ contract, which would push his free agency entry all the way to 2021.

Here’s more on the Redskins and Williams:

By reporting before 4pm on Tuesday, Williams ensured that the Redskins will not have to petition the commissioner for his reinstatement this week (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim). That’s at least one hurdle cleared for Williams, who wants to protect against the possibility of the Redskins robbing him of an accrued season.
Near the deadline, the Browns tried, and failed, to get the Redskins to take a second-rounder and a current player for Williams (via John Clayton of 710 Seattle). The Browns had Giants tackle Nate Solder as their fallback option, but they were unable to beat the buzzer.
No deal for Williams was ever close, Mike Jones of USA Today (via Twitter) hears. That may, or may not, make the Browns feel better.

Trent Williams Reports To Redskins

October 29th, 2019 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Trent Williams has reported to the Redskins, according to former teammate DeAngelo Hall (on Twitter). However, this doesn’t mean that everything is a-OK in D.C.

The Redskins refused to part with Williams before the trade deadline, unless they were presented with a Godfather offer. That offer never came, and Williams appears to be stuck with a franchise that he can no longer stand. At least, for the time being.

Williams’ arrival doesn’t mean that he’ll take the field – the tackle might not be ready to play and, in any case, might not be willing to suit up for the Redskins. But, by showing up for work, Williams has ensured that his contract will not toll. He’ll earn $5.8MM in base salary the rest of the way, plus ~$15K for each game he’s active. After that, he’ll have one year left on his contract, worth $12.5MM.

Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowler, has missed 13 games over the last three seasons due to various injuries. Still, he stands as one of the better left tackles in a league that doesn’t have a whole lot of great tackles. Williams graded out as the league’s best overall tackle in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, and still managed to place No. 21 in a down 2018.

Latest On Redskins, Trent Williams

October 29th, 2019 at 12:59pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The NFL trade deadline is just a few hours away, and one of the biggest name players on the block is Redskins tackle Trent Williams. Williams hasn’t played or practiced this season as he continues to hold out due to his unhappiness with Washington’s management, and the ‘Skins just recently became open to trading him.

Washington got the trade ball rolling very late in the process, and it could end up ruining their chances of getting a deal done. The Redskins haven’t budged off their asking price of a first-round pick, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. Williams is 31 with a somewhat significant injury history, so it’s unclear if anyone will meet that asking price. Additionally, we have another report that suggests Washington’s front office isn’t taking a realistic approach here.

The Redskins “aren’t just asking for draft picks,” and are “big-game hunting” while asking for players like Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in a potential trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). As Rapsheet points out, that’s a “non-starter.” Cleveland just drafted Ward fourth overall last year, and he’s shown a ton of promise.

The Browns have been the team most heavily linked to Williams for a while now, as they continue to search for offensive tackle help. They’re still in the mix but the Browns have expressed concern about including a first-round pick due to a potential Williams injury, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com.

Redskins Open To Trading Trent Williams

October 28th, 2019 at 2:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Better late than never. The Redskins are now open to trading Trent Williams, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The asking price: a first-round pick, according to Albert Breer of SI.com (on Twitter).

Williams has been vocal about his desire to get out of D.C. since the offseason, but the Redskins refused to deal him. Now, with 24 hours to go before the trade deadline, they’re at least listening to offers. They’ve begun the process of looking at potential suitors, Rapoport hears, which means that a deal could come together before the buzzer.

Washington has informed teams it has a second-rounder on the table from an unknown team, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. With the team moving off its stance of trading Williams in the offseason at the 11th hour, it certainly seems like the 10th-year blocker will have a new home soon.

The Redskins’ asking price is currently unknown, but they could probably command a decent return given the dearth of quality tackles across the league. If Williams is healthy, he’d automatically represent a colossal upgrade to any front five in the NFL.

The Browns’ pursuit of Williams has been well-documented and they would be a logical partner for Bruce Allen & Co. The Patriots would also make ample sense, though they recently gave up a second-round pick for wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. It’s not clear whether the Pats would be willing to cough up more to land Williams, but it stands to reason that they’ll at least consider it.

Williams, for his part, is planning to show up for work by Week 10 in order for 2019 to count as an accrued season. Whether he’s healthy enough to play by then is a separate matter.

Patriots Notes: Trades, Brady, Gronk

October 27th, 2019 at 10:01am CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots made a couple of notable trades over the past week, acquiring wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and jettisoning defensive end Michael Bennett. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the team is not done dealing, and his sources say New England is continuing its efforts to strengthen its offense.

Even with Sanu in the fold, La Canfora says the Pats are still expected to pursue receiver help, and although all indications are that the Bengals won’t trade A.J. Green prior to Tuesday’s deadline, rival GMs expect Bill Belichick to take a run at him just the same. As reported previously, the club is also interested in bolstering its tight end group, and Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert and Tampa’s O.J. Howard appeal to the Patriots. Additionally, New England remains in the market for O-line upgrades, with Washington’s Trent Williams, Cincinnati’s Cordy Glenn, and old friend and current Giant Nate Solder also potential targets.

Now for more out of Foxborough:

Despite La Canfora’s report that the Patriots will continue to be aggressive in the trade market, Michael Lombardi of The Athletic says the Pats are not involved in any deals right now, as they are quite limited in cap room (Twitter link). The Bennett trade helped to facilitate the Sanu acquisition, but if New England is going to make another splash, it may need to cut or restructure another player.
For the first time in 20 years, Tom Brady‘s future is uncertain, and one of the league’s most respected reporters, Adam Schefter, recently said that Brady staying with the Pats beyond 2019 is less likely than his retiring or suiting up for another club. Another of the NFL’s most prominent scribes, Ian Rapoport, doesn’t go as far as Schefter, but he does say that Brady’s tone with respect to his future has changed dramatically, and RapSheet confirms that TB12’s 2020 plans are very much up in the air (video link). On the other hand, Schefter points out that Brady’s strong relationships with Belichick and owner Robert Kraft — which were reportedly strained not that long ago — could convince the future Hall-of-Famer to stay in New England.
If Brady does play elsewhere in 2020, La Canfora says the Chargers would hold significant appeal to him given his connections to SoCal and his increasing interest in Hollywood.
Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski recently stated in no uncertain terms that he would remain retired, but as Stefan Geller of the Boston Herald writes, that could still change. Gronk is calling on the league to allow players to use CBD products to aid in their recoveries, and if that happens, he suggested he could come back. “I also want to have the option to get back into the game, and if I’m banned next year, I can’t,” Gronkowski said. Gronkowski, obviously, is using CBD products and recently partnered with CBD Medic.
Tom Pelissero of NFL.com names Patriots special teams/WRs coach Joe Judge and ILB coach Jerod Mayo as two assistants who could garner head coaching interest during next year’s coaching carousel. While it would be a stretch to see the 33-year-old Mayo as an HC in 2020, especially since he just became an NFL coach seven month ago, it would not be surprising to see him get an interview.

Trent Williams To Report By Week 10?

October 24th, 2019 at 7:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Redskins tackle Trent Williams is tentatively planning to return to the team before Week 10, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport hears (on Twitter). Still, that doesn’t mean Williams will play.

The Week 10 mark is significant, because Williams must show up for work by then in order to gain an accrued season. But, even if he walks through the doors in D.C., he won’t necessarily walk straight on to the field. Williams still has to heal up and, given the recent ugliness, it seems unlikely that he’ll play for the Redskins if he’s less than 100%.

The trade deadline is on Tuesday, so the clock is ticking for the Redskins and Williams and the many teams that could use a protector of his caliber. Both publicly and privately, the team has said that Williams isn’t going anywhere. Rapoport’s understanding is that Williams will indeed be staying put, unless someone comes up with a Godfather offer.

The Browns want Williams, but they were turned down, just like the Patriots and others that have inquired on him. For now, Williams the seven-time Pro Bowler is under contract through next season with base salaries of $10.85MM for this year and $12.5MM in 2020.

Trade Notes: Falcons, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Jets, Redskins, Giants, Eagles, Bills, Packers

October 24th, 2019 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams continue to ask about Austin Hooper, whose 526 receiving yards sit 11th in the NFL entering Week 8. However, the Falcons have spurned suitors who’ve called about the emerging tight end, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Hooper is in a contract year, but the Falcons believe they have a chance to re-sign him. The Falcons, though, are the team doing the contacting regarding Vic Beasley. Atlanta is shopping its former All-Pro defensive end, who is playing out a $12.8MM fifth-year option. Pass rushers are obviously valuable, but with Beasley’s play having fallen off since that 2016 breakthrough, the return might not be what the Falcons seek.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

The Redskins continue to respond with hard nos when asked about Trent Williams, but Breer adds Josh Norman‘s name has been floated around. With Norman having not lived up to the $15MM-AAV contract he signed in 2016, it would be hard to imagine the Redskins getting much value for the eighth-year cornerback.
A cornerback performing better continues to look likelier to stay put. Chris Harris does not expect to be traded, and Troy Renck of Denver7 notes the Broncos are not as motivated to deal their four-time Pro Bowler as they were to ship out Emmanuel Sanders. A second-round pick would likely be necessary here, per Breer. Considering the Broncos’ issues finding corners as of late, dealing Harris would create a massive offseason need in Denver.
The Bengals are 0-7, and A.J. Green continues to come up in trade rumors. But the old-school organization isn’t budging. Mike Brown has not signed off on a firesale, Breer adds, instead preferring to provide first-year HC Zac Taylor with a foundation. That project is not going well so far, with the veteran-laden team performing poorly. Cincinnati’s potential trade chips also include franchise sack leaders Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. Neither appears to be a departure candidate. Tyler Eifert is a name Breer mentions could be dealt, but the tight end obviously has a significant injury history that would limit a return.
As for the expensive New York corners, Janoris Jenkins has generated more interest than Trumaine Johnson. The Giants have shopped Jenkins around some, per Breer, while Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes it would require “a miracle” for a team to take Johnson’s salary off the Jets‘ payroll. Jenkins is signed through 2020, with $5.37MM remaining in 2019 salary.
In addition to the Saints exploring receiver additions, the Bills, Eagles and Packers are as well, Breer notes. This could heat up the Robby Anderson market, but Breer adds Browns wideout Rashard Higgins has been discussed in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. The backup is in a contract year. However, Higgins has battled knee issues and has only played in one 2019 game.
With Mark Andrews having outproduced Hayden Hurst, the Ravens have received calls on their 2018 top pick. As of now, however, Hurst is not believed to be available, per Breer.