Trent Williams, Redskins agree to an extension

BALTIMORE — Trent Williams agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Washington Redskins on Saturday that would keep him with the team until 2020.

According to multiple reports, Williams signed a deal that could be worth up to $66 million and includes a guaranteed $43.25 million, which would be the most for a left tackle in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys’ Tyron Smith signed an eight-year, $110 million contract extension last summer that reportedly included $40 million in guarantees.

“It was a huge relief,” Williams said Saturday, after the Redskins defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 31-13, in a preseason game. “Obviously, every time you step out there on the field and play, you’re taking a chance. To know that my future is secure, it just allows me to let my hair down and play.”

Williams, 27, was drafted by the Redskins with the No. 4 overall pick in 2010 and is wrapping up the final year of the six-year, $60 million contract he signed that July. He will make a base salary of $10.25 million this season; including bonuses, his salary cap hit for the Redskins, at $14.23 million, is the highest on the team.

The left tackle has played in all but nine games since joining the Redskins and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons. He was also voted an offensive captain by his teammates each of the last three seasons.

Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy played against Williams while in college — McCoy at Texas, and Williams at rival Oklahoma — and was pleased to hear about the left tackle’s contract earlier in the day.

“His value here is priceless,” McCoy said. “To have a guy like that on your left side protecting you, it reminds me a lot of — I think he and [Cleveland Browns left tackle] Joe Thomas are the best, and I’ve been fortunate enough to play with both of them, so I’m very happy for him.”

Negotiations had been ongoing since last January, with general manager Scot McCloughan saying repeatedly that the team and Williams’ agents had been discussing parameters of a deal. Once outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan signed a five-year, $57.5 million deal the day before training camp opened last month, the Redskins could then focus on addressing Williams’ contract situation.

Williams, who has said on several occasions that he did not want to be active in contract negotiations, that he learned about the new deal on the bus ride from the team hotel to the stadium before the game.

“It was a pleasant surprise to know that Washington made that commitment to me,” Williams said. “My agent, Vincent Taylor, he worked night and day to get this thing nailed down before the regular season started, and I mean, I owe it all to him. He went to bat for me.”