Ron Rivera: Redskins Were Offered 1st-Round Pick for Trent Williams Last Season

Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday there was an "opportunity" for the team to receive a first-round draft pick for offensive tackle Trent Williams ahead of last season's NFL trade deadline.

Rivera, who was hired by the Redskins in January, discussed the situation during an appearance on The Team 980 Radio in Washington, D.C.

"There was an opportunity, from what I was told, that last year just before the trade deadline—he was worth a first-round pick," Rivera said. "But for whatever reason, the deal was never done. And because he didn't play for the year somehow that number changed."

Washington traded Williams to the San Francisco 49ers during last week's draft in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round selection.

The 31-year-old University of Oklahoma product and the Redskins, who selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, engaged in an extended standoff that led him to sit out the 2019 season.

Williams said his decision was based on the franchise's mishandling of his medical condition, but the front office believed "money was at the root of Williams' displeasure," according to ESPN's John Keim. 

Following the 2019 campaign, the organization let go president Bruce Allen and head trainer Larry Hess.

The Texas native is heading into the final season of his five-year, $68 million contract and is expected to play out the last year of his deal in San Francisco, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"I think the plan was to land him right now and then let the rest kind of work itself out," general manager John Lynch said. "I think it's always an advantage when you get someone in the building, on your roster. Now you've got a chance. We'll get a really good look at him. We'll see where the rest of our team is at, but right now we are just ecstatic that we were able to pull it off at a really opportune time."

He'll take over at left tackle for Joe Staley, who announced his retirement shortly after the trade. Staley spent his entire 13-year career with the Niners.

Williams established himself as one of the NFL's best linemen during his time in Washington. He received seven straight Pro Bowl selections from 2012 through 2018, and he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2015.

Getting a player with that track record for a pair of mid-round picks should be a steal for the reigning NFC champion 49ers.