Trent Williams - Pro Football Rumors

GMs Expecting Active Trade Deadline

October 6th, 2019 at 9:00am CST by Rory Parks

The NFL has experienced a dramatic rise in significant trades over the past several years, and there may be a few noteworthy swaps going down this month as we get closer to the October 29 trade deadline. Indeed, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says there is a sense among general managers that we may see more trades in advance of this year’s deadline than ever before, largely because there is a larger gulf between pretenders and contenders than in seasons past (indeed, there are still six winless teams, which is the highest number at this point in the season since the 1970 merger).

La Canfora says the teams most actively laying groundwork for potential deals are the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Patriots, and Seahawks. Of course, a number of those clubs have already been pursuing Jacksonville CB Jalen Ramsey, and the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs are casting a wide net for cornerback upgrades.

One of this year’s still-winless clubs, the Broncos, are reportedly more open to moving veteran pieces than they were last year, as La Canfora writes in a separate piece, with Derek Wolfe, Chris Harris, and Emmanuel Sanders all generating interest. Wolfe could make sense for Baltimore, and the Saints are expected to renew their pursuit of Sanders. Even Von Miller could be on the block, per La Canfora, especially since all of his major bonuses and guarantees have already been paid. Miller, 30, is reportedly open to a change of scenery at this point, but Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says the Broncos will not trade him (video link). However, the other players mentioned above could be available if Denver continues to scuffle.

But while Denver may be willing to talk shop, rival GMs are skeptical that the 0-4 Bengals, led by old-school owner Mike Brown, will be amenable to moving big-name vets despite their fading fortunes. La Canfora’s sources say Cincinnati could net a first-round pick for WR A.J. Green if the acquiring club is able to work out a new contract with him as a condition of the trade (and if Green recovers from his foot injury soon). The Patriots and Saints could make a push for Green or Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, and Cincy could also swing deals for players like Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap if the club is willing to listen to offers.

Like fellow winless outfits Denver and Cincinnati, the Jets could be active in shopping veteran players in advance of the deadline. La Canfora specifically names Kelechi Osemele and Leonard Williams as players who could be on the move, though he says there has been no trade chatter surrounding Le’Veon Bell at this point.

Finally, though the 0-4 Redskins have been steadfastly refusing to trade Trent Williams, some believe that the team will relent at some point and will ship Williams to a contender in need of O-line help.

Latest On Trent Williams

September 15th, 2019 at 1:37pm CST by PFR Staff

Disgruntled Redskins left tackle Trent Williams, who has been holding out in hopes of a trade, has already accumulated some hefty fines estimated to be “millions of dollars”, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Despite reports stating that Williams was not concerned about any potential fines, Williams finds himself in a challenging position, as he has a $150K workout de-escalator that kicked in that lowered his base salary from $11MM to $10.85MM. Adding to that, Williams failed to cash in on $653K of salary this past week by continuing his holdout.

The Redskins refused to comment, but league sources told Schefter that Washington will not forgive the fines and will not give Williams a new deal. As previously reported, Washington has no plans to trade Williams.

In Williams’ absence, the Redskins signed veteran Donald Penn to a one-year deal. Penn, who played well in his first start for Washington last week against Eagles, will serve as the starter for the foreseeable future until Williams returns.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eli, Eagles

September 6th, 2019 at 5:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Let’s take a look at the latest from the NFC East, starting with the Cowboys’ contract situation. The team has now extended four high-profile players over the past several months and remains at work on at least two other deals.

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones was adamant that new contracts with Jaylon Smith and La’el Collins were not done to try to put some pressure on Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott or Amari Cooper. “We’d consider other agreements right now and it wouldn’t affect what we’re doing with Dak, Amari or anyone else,” Jones said (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). The Cowboys now have Smith, Collins, Elliott and DeMarcus Lawrence signed long-term; they are still working on re-ups for Prescott and Cooper.
On his “Hail to the Podcast” podcast with Erin Hawksworth, former Redskins defensive back DeAngelo Hall said that Trent Williams could make his return “sooner (rather) than later.” Despite his holdout, GM Bruce Allen recently confirmed that the disgruntled Pro Bowler will not be traded and that he does not see him retiring.
According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Giants officials have privately told him that Eli Manning will remain the starting quarterback as long as they are in the playoff race. Moreover, sources also told Vacchiano that Pat Shurmur will have a significant say in the matter. “It’s Shurmur’s call,” one team source said. “Let’s just see how it goes. When and if it’s time, we’ll all know.” Manning confirmed this past summer that he is not rushing into retirement.
Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was thought to be AWOL after missing the team’s preseason finale against the Jets, and the team was “livid” at his absence, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. However, Bradham said he was “under the weather” and needed to communicate better with team officials. Bradham signed a five-year, $40MM deal in 2018 and has been a key contributor to the defense since coming over from the Bills in 2016.

Latest On Redskins, Trent Williams

September 6th, 2019 at 10:23am CST by Zachary Links

With two days to go before the Redskins’ season opener, Trent Williams‘ status remains in limbo. However, the offensive tackle is in town and talking with teammates (via Les Carpenter of the Washington Post).

On Thursday, running back Adrian Peterson slipped and told reporters that he saw Williams, in person, on Wednesday night. However, he declined to speculate as to whether this means Williams will be rejoining the team.

“I don’t know,” Peterson said. “I don’t want to get into all that. It’s Thursday, he won’t be in this week for sure. But that’s not really what we talked about. We just caught up and saw how he was doing and how things are going for him.”

For now, the Redskins are refusing to trade Williams, and they plan to start Donald Penn at left tackle in the interim.

Redskins: Trent Williams Won’t Be Traded

August 29th, 2019 at 8:34am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins won’t part ways with Trent Williams. At least, that’s what GM Bruce Allen continues to say.

“It’ll be with us,” Allen said when asked where he believes Williams will play in 2019 (Twitter link via NBC 4 Sports).

Williams is reportedly ready to play, though not willing to play for the Redskins. Given his Pro Bowl resume and the dearth of tackles league-wide, nearly every team in the league would have at least some interest in adding the disgruntled veteran to the roster. Still, the Redskins remain dug in.

“I think Trent’s going to play football, yes,” Allen said. “We had a surprising retirement this week in the NFL and I don’t see Trent retiring.”

On a related note – the Redskins’ refusal to part with Williams may keep them out of the Jadeveon Clowney sweepstakes.

Redskins’ Trent Williams Ready To Play

August 26th, 2019 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is healthy and ready to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Of course, Williams is looking to suit up for a different team, so the stalemate continues.

On Monday, head coach Jay Gruden reiterated that he still “very strongly” believes Williams won’t be traded. However, at this juncture, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Williams plays for the Redskins this year, so it’s hard to imagine the club passing on help in other areas or draft capital.

Earlier this month, the Redskins signed Donald Penn to help fill in for Williams up front. They’ve also discussed deals with other teams – for instance, the Dolphins have inquired on Williams and may still have interest. The Patriots, however, do not seem to be in the mix, despite being loosely connected to the veteran throughout the offseason.

The Redskins will face the Ravens on Thursday night in the final game of their preseason schedule. Then, on Sept. 8, they get the season started against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Patriots Not Interested In Trent Williams?

August 22nd, 2019 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have been loosely connected to Trent Williams during the Redskins tackle’s holdout, but it does not look like they will be making a play for the seven-time Pro Bowler.

This does not appear to be a destination for Williams, with Field Yates of ESPN.com reporting (on Twitter) the defending Super Bowl champions are not interested in the 10th-year veteran.

New England obviously made a substantial recent investment at left tackle, taking Isaiah Wynn with 2018’s No. 23 overall pick. Wynn has spent the offseason recovering from a torn Achilles and return to game action in the Pats’ second preseason contest, playing 19 snaps Saturday against the Titans. He started at left tackle. That remains the team’s ideal course of action.

Multiple reports Thursday had the Patriots being willing to surrender a first-round pick for Williams, and the Redskins spurning the offer (Twitter links). This would be quite the return for Washington, were a team to make that proposal. Yates, however, refutes the notion such an offer arrived. The Redskins have held firm on Williams, who has two years left on his contract, and signed Donald Penn as insurance. He and 2018 third-round pick Geron Christian are battling for Washington’s left tackle job during Williams’ absence.

The Dolphins have reportedly checked in on the 31-year-old holdout, despite employing fourth-year tackle Laremy Tunsil. While the Patriots plan to go with Wynn, they have also been using 6-foot-9 Dan Skipper as a potential option.

Dolphins Inquire On Redskins’ Trent Williams

August 13th, 2019 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

For now, the Redskins are refusing to trade Trent Williams. But, if they change their minds about parting with the offensive tackle, the Dolphins may be among the interested teams. The Dolphins reached out to the Redskins about a potential Williams trade, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears.

The Williams saga has been going on for months, with no real resolution in sight. Williams has abstained from camp with hopes of forcing a trade to a new team (one, presumably, that will rework his contract), but the Redskins have yet to flinch. Still, the Redskins seem to be protecting themselves in the event of a deal. Recently, they signed Donald Penn to help bolster the O-Line.

Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is due $24MM over the next two years. The Dolphins, who might have the worst offensive line in the NFL, would be a logical fit, from a football perspective.

NFC East Notes: Williams, Cowboys, Giants

August 12th, 2019 at 9:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trent Williams continues to hold out from Redskins camp, but the team is standing firm on the trade front. Despite acquiring Donald Penn, the Redskins have told teams they have no plans to trade Williams, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Teams continue to inquire about the 10th-year left tackle’s availability, but thus far, Washington has resisted. Williams, 31, is upset with the organization because of his contract and its handling of a health scare of his. Some around the league believe the Patriots will make a play for the seven-time Pro Bowler, but nothing is moving on this front yet. This may be an attempt for Washington to drive up the price, but for now, Williams remains a Redskins employee.

As for Washington’s left tackle situation, Penn and 2018 third-rounder Geron Christian are battling for the spot, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Ereck Flowers is back at guard but may be behind fourth-round rookie Wes Martin.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

Deandre Baker will miss time for the Giants because of a knee sprain, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). However, the first-round pick’s ACL did not sustain damage, and the Giants appear to expect him back soon. Baker will likely be asked to start in his first season, with Big Blue’s cornerback corps rather thin.
The Cowboys gave fourth-round pick Tony Pollard just four carries in their preseason opener, but Jerry Jones may be using that to send a message to holdout Ezekiel Elliott. “He looks confident out there. We know he’s inordinately understanding what it is he does and what he can do,” Jones said, via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. “We’ve seen him do it. We know he’s capable, if he really needs to, carry the whole load.” Pollard gained 16 yards against the 49ers. While Dak Prescott‘s negotiations have been talking points in the past two days, not much has emerged on the Elliott front. Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic, on Twitter) nothing has changed regarding Dallas’ extension candidates.
Third-year Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton addressed his current situation, which may not involve a full-time starting role. The 2017 first-round pick has just four career sacks and said he was not asked to rush quarterbacks as much as he did as a rookie. He mentioned discussing his NFL future with his agent recently (via Machota, subscription required). “We know my value and everything like that, so everything is good,” Charlton said. “I’m here right now working hard with this team. I will show up every day to work hard, healthy, hurt, whatever may be. Shoulder hurt, I still show up every day to work hard.” The Cowboys have DeMarcus Lawrence recovering from surgery, Robert Quinn out two games with a suspension and Randy Gregory once again banned. The defending NFC East champs will need Charlton, especially early.
On another NFC East defensive line, the Eagles saw their 2017 first-round pick return to 11-on-11 drills. Derek Barnett participated in team work for the first time in camp, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia notes. Barnett spent the offseason recovering from a shoulder injury that sent him to IR in October. The Eagles traded Michael Bennett and lost Chris Long to retirement, pointing to a big role for Barnett.
The Giants lost another wide receiver for the season. Recent addition Amba Etta-Tawo tore one of his Achilles’ tendons, per NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo. In his second camp with the Giants, the Syracuse alum has yet to play in a regular-season game. Big Blue is down Sterling Shepard and Corey Coleman and will be without Golden Tate for the season’s first four games.

Latest On Tom Brady, Patriots

August 4th, 2019 at 8:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The full breakdown of Tom Brady‘s latest Patriots contract is not yet available, but one piece of language in the deal points to the sides needing to readdress this issue in several months.

The two additional years on Brady’s deal are void years, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This is a tactic teams use to create additional cap space, and it ended up proving the Pats more than $5MM in additional 2019 funds. It essentially means Brady’s new contract amounts to a 2019 pay raise — an $8MM bump. After that, one of the longest unions in NFL history becomes less clear.

Brady and the Patriots have expressed flexibility to talk contract again next year, and Michael Giardi of NFL.com tweets the future Hall of Fame passer is “perfectly content” playing on a year-to-year basis. But the sides will need to do so to ensure the New England icon plays another season with the Patriots. Brady has repeatedly said he would like to play into his mid-40s, and Robert Kraft said during Super Bowl LIII week he would be “quite surprised” if Brady wasn’t the Patriots’ starting quarterback for “quite a while.”

The Saints used the void tactic in Drew Brees‘ most recent contract adjustment and incurred more 2020 dead money in doing so. Both the Patriots and Saints are annually committed to Super Bowl runs, so it is not surprising to see the franchises make moves to better their situations this year. Whether the Patriots make another move to further bolster their 2019 team remains to be seen.

They have been connected to Trent Williams, with Jeff Howe of The Athletic noting (subscription required) the team has explored a deal for the Washington left tackle. The Pats’ 2018 first-round pick and projected left tackle starter, Isaiah Wynn has not yet participated in a full camp practice. Wynn tore an Achilles’ tendon during training camp last year. And the subject of a Rob Gronkowski unretirement has continually surfaced in recent weeks. That would be another obvious place where the Pats’ new money could go.