Inside The Vikings

Trent Williams to Vikings is "Off the Table" After He Voiced Desire to Not Go to Minnesota

Trent Williams apparently didn't want to play for the Vikings, so they took Ezra Cleveland instead.
Will Ragatz|
Trent Williams to Vikings is "Off the Table" After He Voiced Desire to Not Go to Minnesota
Trent Williams to Vikings is "Off the Table" After He Voiced Desire to Not Go to Minnesota

After months of discussions had reached an apex, the possibility of a Vikings-Redskins trade centered around star left tackle Trent Williams is finally dead. On Friday, Williams made it known that he didn't want to be sent to the Vikings in a deal, according to Ian Rapaport of NFL Network.

"The Vikings have been in constant contact with the Redskins about a possible trade for Trent Williams," Rapaport said. "At some point, over the course of [Friday], Williams made it known that he would rather not go to the Minnesota Vikings. Essentially, that ended the trade right there."

With a deal for Williams no longer a possibility, the Vikings decided to take their left tackle of the future (and maybe the present), selecting Boise State's Ezra Cleveland with the 58th overall pick.

Heading into Friday and the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft, everything appeared to be lining up for a potential trade that would send Williams to Minnesota. Other rumored suitors had taken themselves out of the running by drafting a tackle in the first round, and the Vikings had used Day 1 to accumulate even more draft capital that could potentially be used in a trade.

The two sides were close to a deal when the Vikings upped their offer to multiple Day 3 picks.

But if Williams didn't want to play for the Vikings, it made sense for the team to move on. It could be a blessing in disguise for Minnesota, as there were always risks with acquiring an expensive 32-year-old player who hasn't suited up since 2018.

The Vikings got their tackle. As for Williams and the Redskins, the endless saga continues.

Update: Williams has denied nixing a trade to Minnesota, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin and John Keim, though their sources confirm that "the potential trade partners were informed at some point Friday that Williams did not want to play for the Vikings."

Read: Draft Grades For the Vikings' Selections of Ezra Cleveland and Cameron Dantzler

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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