RICHMOND — Trent Williams said Thursday that although he would prefer to sign a contract extension with the Washington Redskins, the lack of a deal beyond this season is not a concern to him.
The left tackle made his comments shortly after the Redskins held their first walkthrough of training camp and a day after they signed outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan to a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension. Williams is also set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, when his rookie contract, a six-year, $60 million deal signed after he was drafted No. 4 overall in 2010, is set to expire.
Redskins president Bruce Allen and general manager Scot McCloughan have said repeatedly in recent months they’ve been in contact with Williams’ camp about an extension. They said the same about Kerrigan’s situation before the deal was signed on Wednesday.
“It’s not a distraction,” Williams said. “I don’t even think about it. If it gets done, it gets done. If not, it won’t get done. I’ve still got one year to play on this contract and I’m going to go out here and give it my all. That’s all that matters.”
A new contract could potentially see Williams becoming one of the highest-paid left tackles in the NFL. Tyron Smith signed an eight-year, $97.6 million contract extension with a $10 million signing bonus and $40 million guaranteed when the Dallas Cowboys opened training camp last year.
Smith stayed with his current team, but Williams said he wouldn’t be opposed to becoming an unrestricted free agent should an agreement not be reached in time.
“It’s a toss-up, you know?” Williams said. “Everybody wants to hit the open market, especially in their prime, you know? I just really can’t see another team being a fit for me the way Washington is. Of course, I’d like to get a deal done, but the open market has been good to players also.”
Williams has played in 71 of 80 games since he was drafted and has been selected to the Pro Bowl after each of the last three seasons. Frequently willing to play through injury, he has been affected by a variety of shoulder, knee and ankle ailments in recent seasons, including a high left ankle sprain that lingered through much of the offseason.
The ankle is no longer a concern, Williams said, and he said he has lost the 20 pounds that he gained at the end of last season to help him keep in shape.
“I mean, obviously, keeping the weight off has helped me move a little bit,” Williams said. “It showed up on the run tests, you know? I feel great. I’m going to try to stay around this weight. I think it’s my best playing weight.”
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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