Already established as one of the best left tackles in the game, Trent Williams says he'd like to strike a deal with the Redskins to remain with the team for the rest of his career.*
In his first five seasons wearing the burgundy and gold, Trent Williams has developed into exactly what the Redskins envisioned when they selected him fourth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.
So as Williams enters the sixth and final year of his initial rookie contract in 2015, the perennial Pro Bowler – regarded league-wide as one of the best left tackles in the NFL – and the Redskins will try to work out a deal to keep the Oklahoma product around for a long, long time.
Asked Thursday if he'd like to be a Redskin for life, Williams told Redskins.com TV's Larry Michael: "Of course. Of course. That's a no-brainer.
"We'll see," Williams continued. "Business has to work itself out. Obviously I'm not educated in that department, so I've got my representation, and I just let them guys talk and let them handle it, and hopefully we can get something done soon."
Williams joins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan – who had a career-best 13.5 sacks in 2014 – as one of two high-profile Redskins players currently in contract extension talks with the team.
Kerrigan – the 16th-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft – is currently in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal with the club.
Asked April 27 about the contract negotiations with both Williams and Kerrigan, first-year Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan said "they're ongoing, but nothing substantial" in the way of progress was able to be reported at the time.
"But there's been discussions," McCloughan said. "We're not in a hurry, hurry to do it, but we'd like to. We see them as quality Redskin football players, and they're both highly talented. It's a big contract, but discussions are going on. We definitely have been staying in touch with the agents."
Williams, 26, just completed his fourth season as an offensive captain for the Redskins, and has been among the league's top left tackles since he was selected No. 4 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. In 2014, he joined Chris Samuels and Joe Jacoby as the only Redskins tackles to make three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
The 2013 Redskins Bobby Mitchell Offensive Player of the Year, Williams battled through multiple painful injuries to play in and start 15 games in 2014.
Fully healed for 2015, Williams has a new offensive line coach, Bill Callahan, to guide his unit moving forward.
Williams said he already likes what he's seen out of Callahan, who is widely regarded as one of the best line coaches in the league.
"He's very detailed; he's not going to let anything slip," Williams said. "You know, he wants everybody to be on the same page every play. He gets to the point of where he wants you to correct yourself. You just sit back and he shows clip and you either say, 'Well I did this right,' or, 'I did this wrong.' You know, he just holds everyone accountable at this point."
At this point of his career, Williams could probably let off the gas and coast into every matchup and offseason workout. But as his "own worst critic," the Longview, Texas, native says he still has a drive to be the best player at his position each and every day.
"I'm busy watching tape of my mistakes and I'm reading through my notes of what I'm telling myself to get better at, and I just haven't reached that platform as a player that I think I can reach," Williams said of his offseason work. "I'm just going to try to continue to work hard and try to be, you know, a better Trent Williams every year."
With the Redskins' offseason officially halfway over, Williams says he's already "looking forward to kickoff" Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, Sept. 13 at FedExField.
"I just want to play, man," he said. "To end the season like that, you know, I'm just ready to get out there and give our fans something to cheer for; give them something to be proud of."
RELATED LINKS:-- This Day In History: Redskins Draft Trent Williams* *-- Trent Williams Leads Through Toughness
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