MARCH 21: While Williams’ future will remain unclear until a contract resolution can be worked out, Schefter’s colleague Nick Wagoner writes the 49ers have not sought out a trade in this case. An extension providing the team with a lower 2026 cap charge and Williams with new guarantees remains something to watch for.
MARCH 20: The 49ers have until 3 p.m. CT to exercise left tackle Trent Williams‘ $10MM option bonus, but they will pass on it, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. While Williams’ cap number will rise from $38.84MM to $47MM, the 49ers are “not overly concerned,” per Schefter. They plan to rework Williams’ contract before April’s draft.
As the 49ers and the 37-year-old Williams butted heads over his contract a few weeks ago, Schefter reported on Feb. 24 that they could release him. However, speaking to the media later that day, general manager John Lynch sounded confident that would not happen.
“Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner,” Lynch said. “We’re all on the same page… I feel very positive where that’s going.”
On March 9, two days before the start of the new league year, a report indicating the 49ers could trade Williams surfaced. Williams remains a 49er, however, and it seems the team plans to keep it that way. Regardless, this is the latest contract dispute during what will surely end up as a Hall of Fame career for the 12-time Pro Bowler.
Then in Washington, Williams sat out the entire 2019 season as a result of a standoff with the team. Washington traded Williams to San Francisco for third- and fifth-round picks in April 2020. Eleven months later, the 49ers handed Williams a six-year, $138MM extension. The deal made Williams the game’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
After Williams managed three straight first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons to begin his contract, the 49ers reworked it in September 2024. The three-year, $82.66MM agreement featured $48MM in guarantees, a record for a non-quarterback over the age of 35. Williams still has another year left on the pact, but there is no guaranteed money remaining.
I’m tired of hearing Lynch say “Trent loves being a Niner and we love having him be a Niner.”
Then get the damn deal DONE!!!
What Trent loves is being PAID what he thinks he should be paid…which is why he sat out a year when he was in Washington and eventually traded to the 49’ers who caved and paid him what he wanted….of course he has performed but his tactics of “ill sit if you don’t pay me what I and my agent think I’m worth regardless of contract” is a thing of the times with players today.
Niners are the ones that want to change the contract to help their future cap. Trent would play on the $38 million…
That is wrong. His money left isn’t guaranteed and that is what this whole contract thing is about. He signed in 24 with a 48m GTD, that was paid out over the last 2 years.
Like every contract dispute ever in the NFL, it is about guaranteed money. It’ll be solved when they give him that, just like the last 2 times.
Trent is all about the money
So am I.
Between this guy and Cam Heyward they are always unhappy about the contracts THEY SIGNED.
Isn’t it actually the Niners that want the change? Are you mad at them for not wanting the deal they signed or do you reserve that for players?
Exactly Trent hasn’t complained since he would be getting $38mil while the organization is the one trying to make the changes.
38M isn’t guaranteed. Converting to a signing bonus and extending, wouldn’t lower his money at all, it would just give it to him sooner and lower the cap and spread it.
I dont think hes unhappy here, he seems like hes willing to honor the contract as is. He either becomes a free agent at the end of the season and seeks one more two year deal (says hed like to play until hes 40) or the 49ers cut him and he seeks a three year deal now. Sounds to me like hes just not willing to sign a team friendly extension. He wants market value, or the ability to test the market. How does that make him a villain?
Every year there is an “issue” with his deal. Clockwork. Death, taxes, Trent Williams contract being discussed every offaeason.
He probably could play and at a decent level until age 40. But injuries will catch up to him as they already have. He wants top dollar which he deserves and already received. Market value doesn’t matter if you’re old, beat up, and headed to the IR. Would any other team sign him to more money on a two year deal? Probably not. One year for same or less than he’s making now, maybe.
To continually push for more and more while he ages up isn’t a good look. It’s just the point that he’s endless drama with his salary. While I get the business side of the game, if every player did what he does the league would be a disaster. 49ers have paid him, now get on the field and play ball. He’s made his money, he doesn’t need to be foot stomping and crying anymore.
This situation is literally the opposite of what usually happens. Hes not doing any of those things. Hes simply not agreeing to the extension the 49ers are trying to give him. Don’t see that every day.
“Market value” takes into consideration everything you list. You hit the market, suitors weigh your pro’s and con’s and you get offers. Either he feels SF is offering less than he can get if he hits the market, or he just wants to hit the market and find out for himself.
Hes not the one pushing here. The 49er’s are. They just accelerated his cap hit by declining that option. They’ve positioned themselves to cut him with less impact on next year’s cap, at the cost of increasing this year’s hit. If they picked up the option, they’d have had to pay him 10MM of his salary as a bonus. The money comes off this year’s cap. If they cut him after the fact, hed have 10MM they cant get back and that money would count partly against next year’s cap.
I get their motivation. Its a huge cap hit they want to reduce. If they extend him, they’ll be able to. Nothing says he has to, and its kind of ridiculous to harbor ill will towards him for not agreeing to extend.
Well then don’t extend him. Play out the final year and see what happens. Ball is in his court really. He’ll be what? 39? And hopefully not injured. What kind of market does he expect? Not a good one. At best he’ll get a middling one year contract. So he can agree not to extend, and hope for the best. He’s on his downside like Jason Peters. Take your money and move on.