How a Browns trade for Trent Williams could fill several team needs

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

Takeaways from rumors of sustained interest by the Browns in trading for Trent Williams …

1.The first thing to know if the Browns traded for Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is they would have to redo his current contract, which has one year to go at $12.5 million. Initially, Williams reportedly targeted Lane Johnson’s $18 million-a-year average as his asking price, but his agent subsequently said that wasn’t accurate. Let’s say the Browns are able to negotiate a four-year deal lower than that. Let’s use a $16 million average over four years, taking Williams to the age of 35. And let’s use that $16 million as Williams’ approximate salary cap number for 2020. Added to recent new deals given to left guard Joel Bitonio, center JC Tretter and right tackle Jack Conklin, it would catapult the Browns into the top three in the league in spending on their offensive line. According to figures provided by overthecap.com, the Raiders ($57.1 million) and Cowboys ($53.1 million) are spending the most in 2020 on their offensive line. Trading for Williams would move the Browns probably into the third spot at about $50 million. “For us … the offensive line is always going to be a priority,” GM Andrew Berry said on April 10.

2.The dots undeniably connect Williams to the Browns. 1. They have a real need for a left tackle, and even though this is a good year for offensive tackles, former Redskins GM Scot McGloughan said in a radio interview that Williams would be “the first tackle taken this year in the draft, hands down — even at his age [31]. You bring him in, you’re going get three to four years out of him, and it’s going to be Pro Bowl years. That’s legit one of the top five tackles in the NFL, hands down, right now.” 2. McGloughan was used by former Green Bay colleague John Dorsey as a consultant for the 2018 Browns draft that championed Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 pick. Little known fact: McGloughan also was used as a consultant by former VP Sashi Brown prior to the 2017 draft – before Dorsey even came to the Browns. So the current regime of Paul DePodesta and Andrew Berry, who were in power at the time, must respect McGloughan’s opinion. 3. New Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan comes directly from the Redskins. In the four seasons Callahan coached the Redskins’ offensive line with Williams active, Williams made the Pro Bowl every time.

3.The Redskins’ asking price in a trade reportedly is a second-round draft pick. What hasn’t been widely reported is that Washington would be OK with that pick – or a combination of picks – coming in the 2021 draft. This is an important nuance that I think could be the key to a deal involving the Browns.

4.In my opinion, any draft deal for Williams should include conditions based on his playing availability due to his injury history, which included a cancerous growth on his head last year. If he is active for, say, eight games, the Redskins would get one set of picks (e.g. third- and fifth-rounders). If he is active for, say, 12 games, the picks improve to second- and fifth-rounders. This is why the trade must be made for 2021 picks and not 2020.

5.Now, let’s suppose the Browns can get a trade deal done with Washington before Thursday’s draft. Even though the picks involved would be in next year’s draft, the Browns would want to know they have Williams in hand before Thursday’s draft. But … this is a big but … they could insist with Washington that the agreement remain secret. That way, the Browns would head into Thursday’s draft with a tactical advantage. Every team would “mock” the Browns for an offensive tackle in their No. 10 spot in the first round. This subterfuge would enable the Browns to be able to then work a trade. No. 14 Tampa Bay, for one, which would love to slip ahead of No. 11 New York Jets to get one of the top four offensive tackles to protect Tom Brady. Without needing an offensive tackle in the draft, the Browns could work a deal with Tampa Bay for an extra third-round pick. The Browns could then use the No. 14 pick on another position – free safety or linebacker – or even move down from there and use the later pick for the same defensive help.

6.Keep in mind, the news of the trade for Williams might still be a secret on Thursday night. Surely, the Browns would take incredible heat for passing on a tackle and trading down, possibly twice. But their strategy would be playing out according to plan.

7.With a free safety or linebacker taken with their eventual first pick, the Browns could then use their second pick at No. 41 on the developmental tackle that they like, Ezra Cleveland of Boise State. Yes, it’s a risk that Cleveland wouldn’t last that long. But with extra picks acquired from the initial trade with Tampa Bay, and possibly a second trade to move down into the 20s, they could easily justify moving up from No. 41 to the late first round to secure Cleveland there.

8.In my scenario, the Browns would end up with Williams at left tackle, Xavier McKinney at safety or Kenneth Murray at linebacker, and Cleveland as the developmental third tackle.

9.In the span of six weeks, Berry would have added two veteran Pro Bowl offensive tackles -- Williams and Conkin. That’s a far cry from Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard.