Redskins faces crisis point with Trent Williams

What is a player worth to a franchise if he won’t report to work? The answer is obviously not much, as the Redskins have found with Trent Williams.

Thus is the situation in the nation’s capital. The Washington Redskins are hitting the fields for training camp this week, but star left tackle Trent Williams is nowhere to be found. Dissatisfied over the medical care he’s received from the team doctors, Williams wants to be traded from the only team he’s ever known. So far, no dice.

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With August rapidly approaching, the Redskins have to make a decision. If they are willing to bend to Williams’ trade demands, they should let teams know their open for business but set a deadline in the coming days. At that point, take the best deal and move on, allowing the season to continue without a looming cloud hanging over the action.

If Washington’s stance is to keep Williams and wait him out, there’s merit in that idea also. At some point this year, it would be reasonable to assume Dwayne Haskins will take over as starting quarterback. When he does, Williams would be the perfect security blanket for the young gun, especially considering Haskins isn’t much for running out of the pocket.

While Williams might be annoyed and want out of town, smart money says he won’t miss any checks, and he’ll be back with the team before the regular season begins. So, if the Redskins and their front office want to play the waiting game, let it be known publicly that Williams isn’t on the block and go from there.

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At 31 years old, Williams is signed through the 2020 season at palatable cap hits of $14.7 and $14.6 million. While those numbers are certainly top-five money for a left tackle, they remain in line with his level of play. Additionally, the Redskins could always decide to move on should his play dip, as cutting Williams next year would only cost $1.905 million in dead cap money.

With Washington facing somewhat of a rebuild, it’s easy to look at Williams’ holdout and conclude the team should trade him for young pieces and/or draft picks. However, peering into the situation closely, there’s reason to keep a franchise left tackle and hope Haskins’ development accelerates because of it.

Regardless of their choice, the Redskins must act swiftly and stick to their decision.