New England Patriots: 5 trade targets prior to NFL trade deadline

Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have held strong on their desire to keep star left tackle Trent Williams on the roster. However, when push comes to shove, I expect him to get moved prior to the NFL trade deadline. The 1-5 Redskins are not going anywhere and Williams clearly has no interest in playing with the team.

Instead of continuing to deal with the headache of Williams not playing, Washington would be smart to trade him to the highest bidder. I love Isaiah Wynn as a player and think that he could really grow into a reliable left tackle for the New England Patriots. That being said, if he cannot stay healthy, he is not doing them any good. If the Pats have a chance to swing a trade for Williams, they should pull the trigger.

The 31-year-old Williams is one of the premier left tackles in the entire NFL. He is a fantastic pass protector who could come in and protect Brady’s blindside at an elite level for the rest of the veteran quarterback’s career. The Patriots have done a nice job of piecing together their offensive line with what they have, but unless they start getting some of their better linemen back from injury quickly, their ability to consistently protect Brady is going to be a major concern.

Williams’ contract situation does make this tricky. The Patriots do not have a ton of available cap space and Williams is going to want a new and improved contract. That being said, he is a good enough player who is worth doing what it takes to get on the roster. Trading for Williams would not only solve the Patriots’ offensive line issues this season, but it would also take care of them for the foreseeable future.