It’s no secret the Jets need offensive line help and it’s even less surprising to hear they’re one of the teams pursuing a trade for disgruntled Redskins left tackle Trent Williams.
With only two 2019 starters – tackle Chuma Edoga and guard Brian Winters – under contract, Joe Douglas and the Jets need to rebuild their offensive line from the ground up in order to better protect Sam Darnold. Acquiring Williams could be the first step.
Williams missed the entire 2019 season after he held out until October over contract and team disputes before the Redskins placed him on the non-football injury list to end the season. The crux of Williams’ displeasure with the Redskins revolved around the medical team downplaying a cancerous growth on his head, and he voiced that frustration throughout the season. Though the Redskins maintained their desire to keep him, they recently gave him permission to seek a trade this offseason.
The Jets need experienced veterans who can immediately upgrade the offensive line and Williams fits the bill as the perfect fit for Darnold’s blindside blocker. He’s played at an extremely high level since the Redskins drafted him fourth overall in 2010 and has been regarded as one of the best left tackles in the game since then.
But not every potential transaction is perfect. Williams has plenty of pros but just as many cons. The same goes for the move to trade for him. Giving up something for a player of Williams’ caliber is always risky, especially when a team is in the middle of a rebuild.
Pro: On-field production
You might not find a more consistent left tackle in football than Trent Williams. If you take out this past season, Williams is coming off of seven consecutive Pro Bowl seasons. He earned a pass-blocking Pro Football Focus grade of 80.0 or higher over the past six years of that stretch.
He’s been exceptional over the past three seasons as well – only David Bakhtiari and Joe Staley eclipsed Williams’ 89.1 overall grade between 2016 and 2018 and he only allowed one sack between 2017 and 2018. Williams is elite and would be the best left tackle the Jets have seen since D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired in 2015.
Con: Injury and age concerns
Williams comes with major durability issues. He hasn’t played a 16-game season since 2013 and he’s only completed a full season twice in his nine-year career. He’s endured foot and knee injuries throughout his career and missed 12 games between 2016-18.
All of these injuries occurred before Williams turned 30, too, and he’ll be 32 by the time Week 1 of the 2020 season starts. Douglas and the Jets haven’t been afraid to sign older offensive linemen in the past, but they may not be willing to give up assets and money on an aging, injury-prone player – even one with as many accolades as Williams.
Pro: Veteran experience and mentorship ability
You don’t find many left tackles on the market with as much experience as Williams. He’s started 119 games since 2010 and played for a plethora of quarterbacks and coaches. Williams has seen it all and that will help anyone on the offensive line if the Jets trade for him.
Knowledge is power and having a player with the veteran pedigree that Williams does will only elevate the rest of the offensive line, especially younger players the Jets already have and could bring in via the draft or free agency. Experience and mentorship is an intangible skill that should absolutely be considered when deciding on trading for Williams.
Con: Price to acquire and keep
Whatever it’ll take to get Williams won’t be cheap. The Redskins already turned down a first-round pick from the Browns before the October trade deadline and they’ll likely look for a similar package now. That’s a little too much for a 32-year-old lineman with extensive injury concerns, but history shows the Jets would probably need to give up at minimum one of their two third-round picks for Williams.
Williams wants a new contract as well and the Jets would likely have to negotiate a big one to keep him around in 2020. He has one year remaining on his contract that comes with a $14.5 million cap hit and a $12.5 million base salary and that number would only increase given Williams’ demands. His production and experience are worth a big contract, but signing Williams to a lucrative or market-setting deal would be a mistake. Laremy Tunsil – who is almost seven years younger than Williams – is looking for a new contract and every other left tackle ahead of Williams’ annual salary except Joe Staley is younger than Williams.
