The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already been busy this offseason building a super team on offense. After signing Tom Brady and acquiring Rob Gronkowski, this team is already capable of a Super Bowl run. It turns out, they might not be done adding talent.
According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the Buccaneers were involved in discussions on a blockbuster trade that would have sent O.J. Howard to the Washington Redskins for star offensive tackle Trent Williams.
The talks reportedly happened several months ago but fell through. The 31-year-old offensive tackle has been on the trade block for months, but discussions have been complicated by his contract demands and the team’s asking price.
Washington reportedly wanted a second-round pick to move their top left tackle. However, teams across the league have refused to meet the request given Williams hasn’t played football since 2018.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Williams was one of the NFL’s best left tackles before he sat out the 2019 season. He is seeking quarterback-like money on a contract extension and sat out this past year due to the way the medical staff handled an emergency situation.
It’s possible the Buccaneers could explore a trade for Williams during the 2020 NFL Draft. Howard is expendable after they acquired Gronkowski and the team needs to upgrade at offensive tackle.
While signing Williams to an extension might be complicated due to the team’s limited cap space, it would be a great win-now move for an organization that is focused on bringing home a Super Bowl title.