Huge Divide Remains Between 49ers and Trent Williams; Future Still in Doubt

The 49ers, already balking at star left tackle Trent Williams’s previous $37M salary, balked at executing his $10M option bonus, as expected, and the sides remain at a loggerheads about a new deal for the future Hall of Famer.

Will some media reports are couching the situation as nothing to see here, and indicate San Francisco will simply rework his contract, we continue to hear that talks between the sides have gone nowhere, and a trade or trade request is hardly out of the question. 

Williams is now carrying a $47M cap hit, and if the 49ers want to make any substantial moves this offseason it will require a reworked deal with Williams. But Williams may not be motivated to work within any structure the team has in mind, and with his contract set to void after 2026 there is no simple restructure the team can do without a new template that the player would have to be fully on board with.

To imply that Williams will absolutely be a 49er to end his career would be misleading at this point, according to league sources.

These Sides Are Still Very Much At Odds

“They aren’t anywhere close to a deal yet,” said one source familiar with the situation, “and I don’t think anything happens unless the 49ers make a big move.” 

Williams doesn’t have much motivation to play for anything less than the $33M in cash he is set to earn in 2026, and the 49ers clearly aren’t comfortable with that, hence the renegotiation talks. Williams is acutely aware there is a robust market for his services as a free agent or through trade. 

“It doesn’t make any sense to do anything now,” the source said, noting the Williams retains trade leverage by sticking with his currently structure and not relenting on his demands for what a new contract with San Francisco should look like.

Williams continues to perform at an elite level despite his age and injury history. The 49ers are notorious for clashing with their best players over the contracts and having these situations bleed into training camp, and, in several cases, seeping into the locker room culture. 

San Francisco likes to hold a tough line in these situations, but Williams has been headstrong throughout his career, and other teams will continue inquiring about him ahead of the draft next month. 

Williams might be a little vulnerable were the 49ers to wait until well in August to release him, in the event this drags into another holdout, with him perhaps at risk of finding the kind of money he seeks at that time of year. But it’s highly unlikely anything changes between these sides in the near term.