The Browns are still interested in Trent Williams if the price drops

There hasn’t been a lot of noise recently on the Trent Williams trade front. The Redskins were very active yesterday, trading a 5th for Panthers QB Kyle Allen, trading another disgruntled player(CB Quinton Dunbar) to the Seahawks for a 5th, and releasing 5 DBs including oft-troubled safety Montae Nicholson. That obviously gets people wondering when Trent will get traded with a month to go until the draft(hopefully).

There have been several things holding a potential trade up. Trent Williams reportedly wants a contract that makes him a top-paid tackle in the NFL again with a reported $20+ million per year asking price. The Redskins have also reportedly lowered their asking price from a 1st plus more last year, to a 2nd this year. They are reportedly willing to lower that even more to get a trade done. Trent Williams and his agent were given the permission to work out a trade, but those asking prices aren’t getting much action.

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com has been all over the Trent Williams to the Cleveland Browns trade possibilities, and she had another update yesterday. According to Cabot:

“The Browns explored trading for Williams after the Redskins gave him permission to seek a deal two weeks ago. He is still a possibility if the Redskins lower their asking price and/or if Williams is willing to accept less in an extension. If the Browns surrender a higher pick, they’d likely want a longer-term deal, which would effectively take them out of the strong left tackle market in the draft.”

She also mentions that former Redskins Offensive Line Coach/Head Coach Bill Callahan is with the Browns now as their OL coach and he thinks highly of Williams. Baker Mayfield needs a solid left tackle to protect his blindside, and Williams fills that role.

The other big thing that she mentions in her answer is in regards to the cancerous growth on Williams’ forehead that was was removed and was one of the big reasons for the rift between him and the team. When Williams ended his holdout before the trade deadline, he passed his physical but reported discomfort when he put his helmet on. Bill Callahan was in the process of ordering other helmets to try, but the Redskins shut Williams’ season down by placing him on the Non-Football Injury list.

Mary Kay Cabot had this to say about the Browns concerns with Williams health.

I’m also told that the cancerous growth removed from his head is not a concern.

This is good news for Williams and the Redskins if it helps facilitate a trade. Another obstacle besides the price of the trade is the current worldwide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Travel has been limited and team facilities have been closed. The NFL had very specific rules in place for teams to give players physicals, and when new deals could be made official. Yesterday the NFL Physicians Society informed the NFL and the NFLPA that it was halting physicals. Cabot didn’t specify what made the Browns comfortable with Williams forehead, but a physical would still have to be performed. Williams has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but has had a year off from football, and shouldn’t have any lingering concerns.