The Browns are in need of help at left tackle, and the club will keep its eye on two veteran options as the trade and free agent markets come into focus over the next two weeks. Cleveland will “consider” both Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams and pending free agent Jason Peters as it aims to solidify Baker Mayfield‘s blindside.
Williams, who was earlier today granted permission to seek a trade by Washington, was a target of ex-Browns general manager John Dorsey in 2019. Cleveland was arguably Williams’ most serious suitor ahead of last year’s trade deadline, but the Redskins held firm on their asking price of a first-round pick.
The Browns declined to meet that ask, but they might have another shot at landing Williams, especially now that Washington’s personnel decisions are being made by head coach Ron Rivera and VP of player personnel Kyle Smith (at least, until after the draft). Williams, who has one year and $12.5MM in base salary remaining on his contract, wants to become the highest-paid tackle in the NFL, meaning he’ll need an extension upon being traded.
A cancer scare and a resulting spat with Redskins management sidelined Williams for the entirety of the 2019 campaign, and other health question marks have caused Williams to miss at least one game in every season since 2013. But the 31-year-old has been excellent when on the field, earning Pro Bowl nods in every season from 2012-18.
Peters, meanwhile, will test free agency instead of re-signing with the Eagles in advance of the market’s opening. Although he’s now 38 years old, Peters remains a high-quality left tackle. Pro Football Focus graded the nine-time Pro Bowler as the league’s sixth-best tackle among 81 qualifiers in 2019.
Cleveland is in dire straits at left tackle after Greg Robinson, who played the majority of the Browns’ snaps on the left side last season, was arrested on a felony marijuana charge last month. Justin McCray, who also saw time on the blindside, hasn’t proven to be anything more than a replacement level player on more than 1,300 career snaps.
Dallas is awake and slingin it…just in case it sticks
Why would anyone want to play for the Haslam Circus. Same song second verse.
Because there the only team that is super bowl bound team if they get the right people to block for mayfield
This is sarcasm right?
Same song is right. Same song out of another Cleveland hater.
Money.
What did say and all you haters said why the browns
This makes no sense. Ohio’s school system must be awful.
Willams and a 2nd round pick for Cleveland 1st 4th and 5th
Just say no to drugs.
Playicy ate all the drugs first it seems.
Hahaha really funny! You’ll be crying when I’m right on this prediction Trent Williams to the browns and Greg Robinson, 5th round and 7th round pick to the dysfunctional washington redskins
No way the Browns get that lucky
Yah they will numb nuts
Redskins don’t have a 2nd round pick. Might be more straightforward to move Williams to obtain a 2nd rounder.
Williams has made himself impossible to trade. No one is lining up to pick up a holdout aging tackle with limited availability who wants to be made the richest tackle in the league.
LeVeon Bell all over again.
Negative prognosis: Another season to sit out in Washington to run out his contract (not sure why a year was taken off of Williams two year commitment last year as he didn’t play). Then a contract for two years somewhere for $25 million guaranteed. Maybe Williams gets halfway or two-thirds of the way through that first season at a pro-bowl level. And then never plays football again. Pretty good payday for half a season.
Works for Williams. The Redskins will eventually get their third-round compensatory pick. The team who picks him up ends up the loser.
Hopefully it works out better for everyone than this. Still don’t know what team is lining up to trade second-round pick or higher for a guy who wants to be paid at franchise tag level. Someone should send Williams a course on contract law and professional ethics.
Gotta hope the helmet they have him try on doesn’t hurt…
Man is not living in the real world with his contract demands…. eat up with injuries the last three years, and he no spring chicken anymore
He’s missed 13 games over the last 3 “playing” years and was moved around the line also…..Don’t believe he’s able to claim elite status and certainly not “best in league” status given those 3 years of activity and the fact that he sat out the entire year last year…..Buyer Beware!
Given that the Browns have young players in Mayfield and Chubb and aren’t a player away from being championship contenders, I don’t see much sense in them spending $10M plus on a tackle on the wrong side of 30 with injury issues. Haslam should give the new GM and Stefanski a few years to put more good young pieces in place…although patience has never been his forte.
With the Browns 1st RD pick they can get the best LT in the draft. Why infect their organization with a head case like Williams. If they were to do anything trade them OBJ straight up.
I sure hope nobodys dumb enough to give William’s the contract he want he needs to show he can actually play a full season before he goes around demanding a record contract