Browns Expected To Explore Adding Trent Williams & Jason Peters

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns will explore the possibility of adding left tackles Trent Williams and Jason Peters this offseason.

Williams has been granted permission to seek a trade out of Washington and Peters will be allowed to test the open market in the coming weeks.

Cleveland has an obvious need at left tackle and Cabot notes that they have “strong connections” to both players.

Williams has worked with new Browns OL Bill Callahan and new Browns GM Andrew Berry was with Peters and the Eagles last year.

The Browns were previously linked to Williams leading up to the trade deadline last year, but the Redskins opted to hold on to him. It’s worth mentioning that he will be looking for a new contract. 

Cabot says Cleveland is “strongly considering” left tackle prospect in this year’s draft class such as Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas. Beyond that, free agent OT Jack Conklin and G Joe Thuney are two other possibilities, as the Browns look to upgrade their offensive line.

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 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.  

Peters, 38, originally signed on with the Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas back in 2004. He spent five years in Buffalo before being traded to the Eagles in 2009.

Peters signed a four-year, $53 million extension in Philadelphia after the trade. Last year, Peters signed another one-year extension worth $6 million for the 2019 season. 

In 2019, Peters started 13 games for the Eagles at left tackle.  He was Pro Football Focus‘ No. 6-ranked tackle out of 83 qualifying players.  

We have Peters listed in our Top 100 2020 Free Agents list.