NFL
Chiefs Ready to Pounce if 49ers Can’t Agree on New Contract with Trent Williams
published: 03-09-2026
Last updated: 03-09-2026
NFC Wild Card Playoffs: San Francisco 49ers v Philadelphia Eagles by Elsa | Getty Images
Trent Williams, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the iconic left tackles of his generation, remained mired in a contract impasse with the 49ers through the weekend and heading into the start of NFL free agency, a situation that is being very closely monitored by other teams.
San Francisco’s initial proposal to Williams was seen as decidedly low, according to league sources, which is not unusual with how that team often initiated contract discussions.
The deal was for two years at what many would describe as below average for a player of this accomplishment, and rival front offices believe Williams, who continues to perform at a Pro Bowl level when healthy despite his advanced age, holds significant leverage in this situation.
San Francisco is in a bit of a salary-cap crunch and Williams carries a non-guaranteed cap figure just under $39M for this season.
“We think he has a ton of leverage,” said an executive with one team that would love to get a shot at Williams on the open market. “He has to realize that.”
Who is lurking for Williams?
In what is a suspect free-agent class overall, Williams is seen by some evaluators as the rare potential talent available that could help put a contending team in need of offensive line help over the top.
He remains as strong and agile as ever, though he does come with extreme injury risk at age 37 and with a history of neck issues.
San Francisco would love nothing more than to retain him, but Williams doesn’t have to agree to anything and is aware that there would definitely be a market for his services if he can’t agree to new terms with San Francisco.
Kansas City is seen by many around the league as the team most eager to land him and the one that would be the best fit.
Williams wants to win a Super Bowl, Kansas City has done more of that than any franchise since drafting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs went after Williams very aggressively the last time he was on the open market. Williams ended up with San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan then, with Shanahan a part of his father’s staff in Washington when that team selected Williams in the first round in 2010.
The Chiefs have been churning through left tackles in recent years, coach Andy Ried has been comfortable going with stopgaps there in the past (Williams only has a few years left at this stage of his career) and the Chiefs recently released offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor.
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.