Someone in the NFL may be exploring trade options for disgruntled tackle Trent Williams, but it's probably not the Washington Redskins.
Patriots beat reporter Jeff Howe of The Ahtletic kicked off this melee of fragment reporting Wednesday, saying the Redskins are "having trade discussions regarding tackle Trent Williams," citing a source. Howe added: "There's a feeling around the league the Patriots would be involved due to depth issues at the position."
The Patriots do indeed have unique depth at the tackle position, and the Redskins have a dearth of starting caliber tackles. That doesn't add up to the Redskins trading one of their two starting tackles.
The Redskins are having trade discussions regarding tackle Trent Williams, according to a source. Unclear what type of compensation they'd require in a trade. There's a feeling around the league the Patriots would be involved due to depth issues at the position.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 31, 2019A league source told JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington the Redskins are "gauging interest" around the NFL in a potential Williams trade, while a team source told Finlay, "First I have heard of it."
"League" sources are the common link connecting Howe and Finlay's reporting, although the former necessitated the latter.
Howe says it's unclear what the Redskins may require as compensation for Williams (because he hasn't spoken to the Redskins). Williams would be the type of high-value commodity that rarely becomes available this far into the NFL calendar, and requires a haul. Brian McNally of NBC Sports Washington brings some nice perspective:
A 7-time Pro Bowl left tackle under contract two more years? I have no inside info on #Redskins trade talks on Trent Williams. But you better get a HAUL back if you entertain moving that dude. I'm talking multiple 1st/2nd round picks and a roster player who can help. Full stop.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) July 31, 2019Now that we have two major media markets dueling for the next development, let's check in with Williams' agent, who conveniently no-commented Sherree Burruss of NBC Washington.
Just hung up the phone with Trent Williams’ agent. When asked about trade rumors between the Redskins and Patriots he said “no comment.” #Redskins @NBC4Sports @nbcwashington
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) July 31, 2019Craig Hoffman of 106.7 The Fan was able to carve through the noise with this serrated bit of clarity. Bring it home, Craig.
If a team calls the #Redskins about Trent Williams and they pick up the phone and say "we're not interested" then have there been talks?If you think yes, the #Redskins have had talks about trading Trent. If you believe those aren't talks (I don't), then they haven't per sources
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 31, 2019So, we're back to where we started, but at least we learned the Patriots (along with 30 other clubs) are perhaps interested in acquiring Williams.
The Redskins are now in their second week of training camp without Williams, who is holding out for reasons believed to be partly financial and partly related to the medical staff's handling of his offseason health scare, in which, after seeking a second opinion, Williams had a growth or tumor removed from his scalp that his doctors feared could have become cancerous.
The Redskins signed veteran left tackle Donald Penn as an insurance policy on Wednesday, just in case they can't work things out with Williams.
No news is good news, at least.
Trading Trent Williams would be dumb. I do not see that happening. Carry on.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) July 31, 2019Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan
