More On Vikings’ Failed Pursuit Of Trent Williams
Another hour, another Trent Williams story. This time, the offensive lineman’s agent says the player never objected to a trade to the Vikings.
“On behalf of my client Trent Williams and with the permission of the Washington Redskins I sought trade opportunities for the Redskins to trade Trent,” wrote agent Vincent Taylor (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). “Once I identified the potential trade partners, I wanted to respect all teams’ rights and the process and allowed the Redskins to negotiate directly with the other teams. There has been false reporting that Trent and I objected to particular trades. I will continue to respect the Redskins’ right to negotiate a trade, and hope that the negotiations quickly lead to a trade that is in the Redskins’ interest, Trent’s interest, and the interest of the other team.”
We learned earlier today that the Redskins had been closing in on a deal with the Vikings. However, at the eleventh hour, Williams reportedly nixed the deal.
While Williams’ agent said there’s been “false reporting,” NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said the agent’s “statement is actually false…what I reported is true.”
In fact, Rapoport provides more insight into the failed talks between Washington and Minnesota, noting that the organizations has been talking trade for some time. In fact, the Vikings had actually discussed a new contract with Williams’ agent, and the trade “should have gotten done.” Instead, the Minnesota front office found out yesterday that the offensive lineman didn’t want to join their team.
While the Vikings are out of the race (especially after taking Ezra Cleveland in the second round), it sounds like the Redskins still have some suitors. Earlier today, we heard that the 49ers and Rams could emerge as trade partners.
Trent Williams Nixed Redskins/Vikings Trade
It sounds like the Trent Williams saga almost came to an end last night, but the offensive lineman ended up squashing the trade. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins and Vikings were close to a deal, but Williams made it clear that he didn’t want to play for Minnesota.
“At some point over the course of today, Williams made it known he would rather not go to the Minnesota Vikings,” Rapoport said (via ProFootballTalk.com’s Charean Williams). “Essentially, that ended the trade right there.”
Any hope for reconciliation was quieted towards the end of the second round. The Vikings ended up satisfying their need for a lineman by taking Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland with the No. 58 pick.
Williams denied the rumors on Saturday:
“No, that’s not true,” Williams told ESPN’s John Keim and Courtney Cronin.
Just because the Washington/Minnesota trade didn’t happen, it doesn’t necessarily mean Williams won’t be dealt. Keim reports that several teams remain interested in the lineman, including the 49ers. However, San Francisco’s interest is tied to the status of Joe Staley, who’s flirting with retirement. Keim notes that the Rams could also be a team to watch, as head coach Sean McVay previously worked with Williams in Washington.
We’ve also heard this week that a number of teams haven’t pursued the offensive lineman, including the Eagles and Buccaneers.
Williams, 31, has one year and a $12.5MM base salary remaining on his current contract. While some reports have indicated he wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid tackle with a new deal that averages something near $20MM annually, Williams’ agent has denied those claims.
Vikings Trade No. 105 To Saints
Another late-night trade to pass along. ESPN’s Field Yates reported (via Twitter) that the Vikings and Saints made the following swap:
Saints acquire:
- No. 105
Vikings acquire
- No. 130
- No. 169
- No. 203
- No. 244
New Orleans used the third round’s penultimate pick on Dayton tight end Adam Trautman.
Barring a trade, that could be the Saints’ final pick of the weekend; after drafting three players through the first three rounds, New Orleans is now tapped out of picks. As NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets, this could be the first time the Saints come away with three or fewer draft picks since 1999, when they traded that infamous haul for Ricky Williams.
On the flip side, after making four selections through the first three rounds, the Vikings still have 13 picks remaining. The team could certainly make a handful of trades, but Pelissero tweets that Minny is approaching history. The most picks by a team in the seven-round draft era is 14 by the 1997 Jets and 2016 Browns. The 1968 Bengals selected 17 players in the first seven rounds of the 17-round draft.
Vikings Take T Ezra Cleveland At No. 58
After addressing clear needs at wide receiver and cornerback in the first round, the Vikings took a tackle who slid down the board. 
Minnesota used its second-round pick on Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland. The former Mountain West standout was viewed as a near-lock to go in the first round, so this may well represent good value for the Vikings.
The Vikings were a rumored Cleveland suitor, but given his rumored pre-draft rise, it was perceived that said interest would have required the team using one of its two first-round picks. The 6’6″ blocker rated as Scouts Inc.’s No. 22 overall prospect.
Riley Reiff‘s status has been a discussion point this offseason, and the Vikings may have drafted his replacement. Reiff has worked as the Vikings’ left tackle since 2017. The Vikings have now used second-round picks on tackles in two of the past three years, having drafted right tackle starter Brian O’Neill in 2018. Reiff is under contract through 2021 but would not be a particularly prohibitive cut at this stage of his deal.
NFL Draft Rumors: Vikings, Jags, Redskins
The Vikings have “done a lot of work on” Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link), but Minnesota may have to move up in Round 2 in order to land him. Per Wolfson, the Vikings may need to get ahead of the Jaguars at No. 42 if they want to grab Cleveland. Minnesota’s second-round pick doesn’t come until No. 58 overall, so general manager Rick Spielman would need to work some magic in order to move up. Luckily, the Vikings have 12 picks remaining in the draft that could be used as trade ammunition.
Here’s more on the 2020 draft:
- Speaking of the Vikings and offensive tackles, the ideas of Minnesota acquiring Redskins tackle Trent Williams and moving up in Round 2 aren’t mutually exclusive, as Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune tweets. Washington wants draft capital it can use this year, and while the club has been asking for a second-round pick, the Redskins could also accept a combination of selections that add up to the value of a second-rounder, per John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Minnesota could use any number of those aforementioned 12 remaining picks in order to patch together an offer for Williams.
- Two clubs were attempting to move into the Buccaneers‘ No. 14 slot in order to land Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs, which prompted Tampa Bay to move up one spot into No. 13 and take Wirfs for themselves, reports Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Presumably, the Bucs figured teams moving to No. 14 would also be trying to move to No. 13, which was held by San Francisco. Instead, Tampa Bay shipped a fourth-round pick to the 49ers and added Tom Brady‘s new right tackle.
- When the Raiders‘ first came on the clock at No. 12, the club’s initial discussions involved offensive tackles, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. Oakland’s interest in tackles is a little puzzling, as it already has 2018 first-rounder Kolton Miller on the left side and the high-priced Trent Brown on the right. Eventually, the Raiders settled on Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs.
Vikings Still Pursuing Trent Williams
The Vikings are still in the mix for Trent Williams, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Earlier this month, the Vikings offered up a Day 3 pick to the Redskins, Cronin hears. Heading into Day 2 of the draft, the Vikings still have the draft capital in place to put a package together, so a deal remains possible. 
Of course, it all comes down to what the Vikings are willing to offer for Williams – who would require a sizable contract extension upon arrival – and what the Redskins are willing to accept. Throughout the offseason, they’ve indicated they wanted at least a second-rounder for the multiple-time Pro Bowler.
To our knowledge, no one has met that asking price. But, after several suitors and potential suitors found left tackle help in the first round, the Redskins will have to dial back their expectations. The Browns were the frontrunners for Williams; they took Alabama standout Jedrick Wills Jr. with the No. 10 overall pick. The Jets, who were never willing to send a second-round pick for Williams anyway, grabbed Louisville’s Mekhi Becton at No. 11. The Buccaneers almost traded tight end O.J. Howard for Williams earlier this year, but they moved on and likely slammed the door shut with their move up for Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.
The market for Williams has shrunk and chances of a reconciliation seem remote, so the Vikings could get one of the league’s premier protectors for pennies on the dollar.
Vikings Trade 25th Pick To 49ers
The pace of trades is starting to pick up as the first-round draws to a close. The Vikings are trading the 25th pick to the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
The Vikes will get the 31st, 117th, and 176th picks from San Francisco in return, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune (Twitter link). The 49ers made the move to ensure they got the receiver they wanted, as they drafted Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State with the 25th pick. This was the Vikings’ second pick of the first-round, after they took LSU receiver Justin Jefferson at 22.
It’s interesting that the 49ers opted to trade up, considering all the talk surrounding them has been they were looking to move down. San Fran made the draft’s first trade when they swapped the 13th pick for the 14th and 117th picks with the Bucs. They didn’t have any second, third, or fourth-rounders before that deal, and they are without a pick in those middle rounds once again after giving 117 right back up.
Vikings Exploring Trade Up
The Vikings are talking to teams about a trade into the teens, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
Minnesota, which currently holds both the 22nd and 25th overall selections, may have to give up their second-round pick in order to move up, per Goessling. At present, it’s unclear if the Vikings would be willing to do that, but it will likely depend on what prospects are still available.
Most mock drafts have indicated the Vikings will target wide receivers and cornerbacks in the first round of the draft. During the offseason, Minnesota traded wideout Stefon Diggs to the Bills, released cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and lost CBs Trae Waynes and Mackensive Alexander in free agency.
Vikings, Jaguars Interested In Ezra Cleveland
A few weeks ago, Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland seemed ticketed for the second or third round. Now, it’s sounding more and more like he’ll hear his name called tonight. The Jaguars and Vikings are both showing serious interest in Cleveland, Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network hears.
The Browns have reportedly been enthralled with Cleveland, too, and not just because of his name. He has the potential to feature at four different offensive line spots (every one but center), plus enough bulk at 300+ pounds to hold his ground. Recently, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds that the Boise State tackle is a “mortal lock” to be chosen in Round 1.
The Vikings have been exploring tackle options lately, even though Riley Reiff remains an option. If they drafted Cleveland, they slot the youngster at right tackle and kick Reiff inside. The Jaguars, meanwhile, will return every featured OL from last year, except for Cedric Ogbuehi, but they’re looking to bulk up the unit further.
The No. 10 pick would be too early for the Browns to take Cleveland, but they could trade down for him or fill a different need there and trade back into the first round later.
Vikings Expressed Interest In Trent Williams A Month Ago
The Vikings have previously expressed interest in Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams, but the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, as John Keim of ESPN.com reports. Minnesota’s interest came about a month ago, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com.
Per Anderson, “nothing has transpired” between the Vikings and Redskins since that initial interest is conveyed. But it’s entirely possible Minnesota could continue to work the phones on Williams as we head into draft day. The Vikings currently hold five picks within the top-105, so they should certainly have the draft capital to make a move for Williams if they want to.
Riley Reiff has manned left tackle for the Vikings in each of the past three seasons, but he’d presumably move to guard if Minnesota were to acquire Williams. The Vikings’ front five was an above-average unit in 2019, ranking seventh in Football Outsiders‘ run-blocking metric and 14th in FO’s pass-blocking charting.
Washington has reportedly taken over the Williams trade process from Williams and his agent. Any club that picks up Williams will need to put him through an exhaustive physical exam, and will probably need to extend his contract. He’s currently signed only through the 2020 campaign.