CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are in the market for a left tackle to bolster their offensive line, but the demands in return for a bookend blocker might carry too big of an asking price, at least with one franchise.
Washington is open to dealing multi-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, but according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, front-office executives “are big-game hunting, asking for players like CB Denzel Ward in return.”
Rapoport further wrote that such a request “is a non-starter” for the Browns after Ward put together a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2018 and made his long-awaited return to the lineup in last week’s road game against the New England Patriots after missing four straight contests because of a hamstring injury suffered during a Week 3 practice.
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Why is it a non-starter?
Well, because in 16 career games with the Browns, Ward has registered 65 total tackles, including 49 solo stops and 16 assists, with 13 passes defended and three interceptions to go along with his contributions on special teams, where he has blocked multiple field goal tries.
A 10-year NFL veteran, the 31-year old Williams has become a seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle for Washington since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.
Before the Browns knew if Williams would be on the market, the front office reportedly researched alternatives.
According to CBS Sports NFL reporter Jason La Canfora, the Browns could be targeting New York Giants tackle Nate Solder if talks with Washington do not result in a deal.
“If the Browns are unable to pry Trent Williams out of Washington, the other left tackle I hear they are interested in is Nate Solder. They’ve already done a lot of business with the New York Giants.”
The business between Cleveland and New York that La Canfora was referring to were a pair of offseason trades that saw safety Jabrill Peppers, right guard Kevin Zeitler and a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft go to the Giants in exchange for Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Olivier Vernon.
The 6-foot-8, 320-pound Solder was a first-round pick of the Patriots in the 2011 NFL Draft and was a part of two Super Bowl victories while protecting future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady for seven seasons.
Prior to the 2018 season, Solder signed a four-year contract with the Giants worth a reported $62 million, $35 million of which was guaranteed.
Currently, Williams is holding out and demanding Washington trade or release him after an offseason in which he felt unsupported from the organization while going through a medical procedure. To this point, Washington has remained defiant against its left tackle’s request.