By Lewis Gould
The Redskins have finally traded left tackle Trent Williams.
But they waited too long to get anything much of value in return.
They traded Williams today to the San Francisco 48ers for the relatively cheap price of a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan had coached Williams in Washington as a coordinator and the two are reunited. Longtime 49ers left tackle Joe Staley has not indicated if he’s coming back for the 2020 season, and the Williams move is insurance if he does not return.
Williams has not played since 2018. He was unhappy last year, and revealed that a cancerous growth on his head was misdiagnosed by the Redskins’ medical team. He held out, then went on injured reserve last season, never appearing in a game.
The 49ers and Minnesota Vikings were the two final suitors for Williams, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Browns were also interested but didn’t make an offer.
Washington simply had to move on, and teams knew that. By refusing to trade him all last year, they didn’t help their leverage. It was time to get what they could and put that story to rest.
For the 49ers, Williams will be 32 years old during the 2020 season but should have some good years left. If Staley retires, the 49ers have his replacement. If Staley comes back, the 49ers will figure it out. It never hurts to have good players. Williams can help the 49ers’ stellar running game and Jimmy Garoppolo too.
Some team was going to land a borderline Hall of Fame lineman at a discount during the draft. The Vikings might regret not offering just a little more.
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