Agent Refutes Report Regarding Trent Williams’ Contract Demands

Redskins LT Trent Williams‘ agent, Vincent Taylor, took to the airwaves to push back against reports that his client’s contract demands were holding up trade negotiations to get Williams out of Washington. 

“The last time we’ve had any negotiations with the Redskins was when Trent got his second contract. We have never talked numbers with the Redskins since,” Taylor said in a radio interview with 106.7 The Fan. 

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had previously told 106.7 The Fan that Williams’ unrealistic expectations were hurting negotiations. 

“I’m just telling you, guys, he wants to be the highest-paid tackle in football,” Breer said, adding later, “It’s very difficult to find teams that are willing to give up both top draft capital and a top contract for a guy.”

Taylor refuted that assertion directly. In response to a potential scenario of a team like the Browns agreeing to trade for Williams but only wanting to pay him $16 million a year, Taylor said the contract would not be an issue. 

“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.”

“The Redskins prior to the combine put Trent on the trade market,” Taylor continued. “They had him on maybe 10 days, and even through the combine, which is the biggest business platform for teams looking to wheel and deal. Upon leaving the combine, the Redskins had not gotten one offer that they could bring to Trent and I so that I could negotiate our side.”

Taylor said Washington is the one that is being unrealistic with their trade demands. 

“I had teams call me – and I won’t call them out – I had two teams call me that said, ‘Those guys do not know what they’re doing. Their ask is outrageous,'” Taylor said.

“It’s just best that they release him at this point.”

This is the latest blow as the two sides have sparred publicly over Williams’ desired exit from Washington in recent days. Recent reports have said the relationship is unsalvageable at this point but it’s still unclear how it will end. 

Washington has been reportedly asking for a second-round pick as a starting point in negotiations for Williams since giving his agent permission to seek a trade.

However, the Redskins maintain a trade has been slowed by Williams’ desire for a new contract. The veteran still has one year left on his deal with a $12.5 million base salary that is not guaranteed. 

Meanwhile, Williams through Taylor has claimed the Redskins have not been negotiating in good faith and have been inconsistent in what they would like in return in a trade. 

“We have had legitimate trade partners with our side being ready to go, our deal is in place,” Taylor said via Peter Hailey. “The Redskins have changed their ask from day to day. One day it’s this, the next day it’s that.”

Williams, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Redskins back in 2010. He currently in the final year of his five-year, $66 million contract that includes $43.25 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $12.5 million for the 2020 season. 

According to OverTheCap.com, trading or releasing Williams will free up $12.5 million of available cap space while creating $2 million in dead money.  

In 2018, Williams started 13 games for the Redskins.  Pro Football Focus rated Williams as the No. 21 tackle out of 80 qualifying players.  

We’ll have more regarding Williams as the news is available.