Franchise left tackles don't grow on trees. The Chicago Bears know this better than most. They haven't had one since Jimbo Covert retired back in the 1990s. Since then they've made do with a lot of okay-to-average guys. Charles Leno Jr. is the latest in that string. His limitations were again on display in 2019 with lots of penalties and looking unable to impose his will on anybody way too often. It's why a lot of fans are suddenly intrigued by the developing situation in Washington with Trent Williams.
From 2012 through 2018, Williams was one of the two or three best left tackles in the NFL. An athletic giant who was stout in pass protection and could blow open lanes on the ground. However, after a major dispute with the Redskins medical staff, he held out the entire 2019 season. It got so bad that he demanded a trade. Washington thought things would eventually blow over. They were wrong. Now a new regime has arrived headed by head coach Ron Rivera.
By the sound of things, the team is prepared to grant Williams' request. So what could the asking price be? Ben Standig of The Athletic gave an answer.
"Sources told The Athletic last season that a second-round pick was a realistic haul for Williams. That remains the projected return. Washington traded its 2020 second-round pick last year to Indianapolis to select edge rusher Montez Sweat. Adding a Day 2 pick for Williams could help find his replacement."
Trent Williams is better than Leno but also riskier
Now great left tackles tend to last a long time in the NFL. Jason Peters rolled in Philadelphia until he was 38. Andrew Whitworth is 38 and still going strong in Los Angeles. Joe Staley remains a fixture in San Francisco at 35. Duane Brown is still doing work in Seattle with his 35th birthday looming. Given the fact Williams had a year off to heal his body, he should be back to 100%. There were no signs of dip in his play before the situation with Washington blew up.
At the very least a team could get three years of great left tackle play from him. Is that worth a 2nd round pick? Looking at the Bears' recent history in that round, one would say absolutely.
The problem isn't the pick. It's money. Williams wants a new contract that will make him the highest-paid left tackle in football. This would be over $18 million at least and probably close to $19-20 million per year. Considering the Bears have just $24-26 million in cap space, this is a big problem.
Not to mention the issue with Leno.
His contract is another problem. The Bears can't simply cut him. They'd only gain $2.9 million in space and be saddled with over $7 million in dead cap. Trading him would get the same result. Their best hope to make this process feasible is if a new CBA passed. This would reinstate the post-June 1st cut designation, which the Bears could use to secure $8 million in space. Combine that with maybe cutting Leonard Floyd and his $13.222 million hit?
That makes things more doable. Should the Bears do it? The short-term reward for their offensive line could be great, but it might be sacrificing too much in the long-term.
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