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John Keim
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ESPN Staff Writer- Covered the Redskins for the Washington Examiner and other media outlets since 1994
- Authored or co-authored three books on the Redskins and one on the Cleveland Browns
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Nick Wagoner
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ESPN Staff Writer- Covered Rams for nine years for stlouisrams.com
- Previously covered University of Missouri football
- Member of Pro Football Writers of America
The Washington Redskins on Saturday agreed to trade perennial Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers, his agent said, ending a nearly yearlong dispute with the team that drafted him.
The Redskins traded Williams to San Francisco in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft and a third-round pick in 2021, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Williams and the 49ers are expected to restructure the final year on his contract, a source told Schefter. He’s scheduled to make $12.5 million this season.
“The time has come to part ways,” agent Vincent Taylor said in a statement. “Trent Williams is ready to get back to competing in the NFL and is glad to be a part of a great organization like the San Francisco 49ers.”
Multiple sources said the Redskins nearly reached a deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, but that Williams then told both sides he didn’t want to play for them. Williams denied that and Taylor released a statement refuting that as well.
It ended well for Williams, as he’ll be reunited with San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator in Washington when the Redskins drafted him fourth overall in 2010.
The Redskins had been shopping Williams for more than a month and gave his agent permission on March 24 to seek a trade.
The Redskins and Williams had long been headed for a divorce, dating to last June when he first asked the organization to be traded or released. There was a difference of opinion as to why. Williams said he was upset over what he said was inadequate medical treatment involving a cancerous growth on his scalp. Multiple sources with the Redskins said at the time — and still maintain — that it was all about wanting a new contract.
At the time, Williams had two years left on his contract with no guaranteed money.
Williams reported to Washington shortly before the trade deadline on Oct. 29. He later said he was upset the organization didn’t aggressively shop him, saying any trust with then-president Bruce Allen had been broken.
Regardless, by reporting Williams received credit for a season played, even though the Redskins flunked his physical and eventually placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list.
There was some hope the relationship with Williams could be repaired this offseason. The Redskins fired Allen after the season as well as head athletic trainer Larry Hess. But Williams’ side also was upset that new coach Ron Rivera met with free-agent tight end Greg Olsen in early March before he had contacted Williams.
Rivera and Williams had one brief face-to-face conversation. Rivera has not wanted to extend any player contracts and that included Williams’. Rivera has said he wants to get to know his players first. That philosophy also applied to veteran linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, also entering the final year of his contract.
The Redskins will have to settle on a replacement. Veteran Donald Penn started at left tackle in 2019, but remains a free agent. They signed Cornelius Lucas in free agency, but he has started just 16 games in six years. They also have third-year player Geron Christian, but he has a long way to go. Last season, when the Redskins focused on playing young players down the stretch, Christian, a third-round pick, remained on the bench. He has started two games in his first two seasons.
But replacing Williams’ on-field talent won’t be easy. His athleticism made him a unique player. Teammates often cited him as the Redskins’ most athletic player. It allowed him to block well in the open field and for the Redskins to execute certain runs or screens.
That talent is what led Washington to draft him fourth overall in 2010. Williams fulfilled his promise and eventually became a team captain. However, he was suspended twice for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy with the last time occurring in 2016.
Williams was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2015.
