Redskins sign OT Trent Williams to contract extension

The Redskins locked in Trent Williams, an important member of their offensive line, to a new contract.

The Washington Redskins haven’t been able to stay out of the news lately, and it’s for all the wrong reasons. However, they did do something important on Saturday to lock up a key member of their team.

According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Redskins singed offensive tackle Trent Williams to a new contract. He was entering the last year of his six-year, $60 million rookie contract he signed in 2010.

Redskins giving OT Trent Williams a 5-year, $66 million extension, including $43.25 million gtd, per agent Vincent Taylor of Elite Loyalty.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2015

Trent Williams' 5-year, $66 million extension, including $43.25 million gtd, should make him NFL's highest-paid OT.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2015

This deal for Williams puts him third on the list for total contract value among offensive tackles behind Tyron Smith (97.6 million) and Joe Thomas ($80.5 million), respectively.

However, the $43.25 million the Redskins guaranteed him is the most by far that any team has paid a tackle. The next closest tackles are D’Brickashaw Ferguson at $34.8 million, Smith at $22.8 million and Thomas at $22.5 million.

With this deal, Williams, a three-time Pro Bowler, also becomes the highest-paid Redskins player in total value and per year. Despite this large deal, Pro Football Focus ranked him 18th of all offensive tackles last season, with a grade of +10.5.

Williams being locked in means he’ll be protecting whoever ends up being the starting QB for the Redskins for the next handful of seasons. It could be Robert Griffin III, who can’t stay on the field. Another option is Kirk Cousins, who may be getting another chance due to Griffin’s concussion problems. By next season, it may be someone completely different.

Either way, the Redskins locked up a key part of their future moving forward.

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