Vikings Pursuing Trade For Redskins LT Trent Williams

Update:

JP Finlay of NBC Washington reports that the Redskins are speaking with multiple teams about a trade for LT Trent Williams.

Finlay reiterates that the Redskins want a second-round pick for Williams, but are willing to be flexible in terms of how they get this value for him. Finlay suggests a combination of picks such as a late-third and a Day 3 pick or something like a player and a pick for Williams.

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Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports that the Vikings are pursuing a potential trade for Redskins LT Trent Williams.

Cronin mentions that the Vikings made a trade proposal at least a week before the draft that included a Day 3 pick. However, no deal was agreed to at the time.

Even so, Cronin says Minnesota is “very much in the race” to land Williams and have the draft capital to pull it off, considering that they have 12 picks in the final two days to work with.

The Vikings would have to create some cap room to fit Williams in and Cronin suggests the possibility of the Vikings including Riley Reiff in the deal along with a draft pick.

The other looming issue with a Williams trade is whether he will play out his current deal or if he’ll insist on a new contract.

Either way, Cronin says Washington could drag this out longer if they feel they’re not getting adequate compensation for Williams.

Les Carpenter of the Washington Post recently reported four teams have shown the most interest in a Williams’ trade up to this point including the Browns, Vikings, Eagles, and Jets.

However, reports later denied the Eagles having interest and the Browns and Jets both drafted offensive tackles in round one.

The need to get Williams a physical in the current environment adds another logistical hurdle that Rapoport says Washington is trying to work through in order to get value out of Williams in this draft.

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.