Trent Williams stays on a six-year contract that runs through 2026, however the acclaimed left tackle isn’t any longer satisfied with the terms of that deal. Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) the veteran blocker is holding out.
This news follows Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in decision. The 49ers could waive Aiyuk’s fines — as they did for Nick Bosa last 12 months — because he’s on a rookie contract, but Williams should be fined day by day for skipping camp. The Fifteenth-year tackle has done well for himself since entering the league — on a CBA that was friendlier to first-round picks — in 2010, so accruing camp fines doesn’t figure to derail Williams here.
Williams signed a six-year, $138.1MM deal to remain in San Francisco through the 2021 free agency period, maximizing his leverage by hitting the market. The contract has slid to fourth amongst tackles, and the Vikings’ Tuesday cope with Christian Darrisaw — when the small print emerge — may drop the All-Pro 49ers tackle to fifth at his position. Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil and Andrew Thomas are each tied to higher AAVs than Williams, who doesn’t have any guarantees remaining on his deal.
Williams provides tremendous value for the 49ers, having almost definitely secured a Hall of Fame route during his time within the Bay Area. He’ll try to exert more leverage to secure some higher terms.
That is, nevertheless, a fairly interesting holdout on account of Williams’ age. He turned 36 last week and has been linked to retirement. The previous Washington draftee said late last season he would play not less than another 12 months, but he shouldn’t be a candidate for a large extension — especially with three years left on his current deal. The Oklahoma product did say a bit earlier last 12 months he desired to play until age 40, nevertheless. That longevity aim could have come up during offseason talks.
A straight raise would stand to appeal to Williams on account of his age, because the 49ers giving him one other extension that runs beyond 2026 will not be especially relevant here. The four-time All-Pro is due $20.1MM in base salary this season. While that cash shouldn’t be guaranteed, Williams is in no danger of being released or traded before Week 1. As a vested veteran, his salary will lock in only before the beginning of the season.
Re-emerging after a dispute with Washington preceded a full-season absence in 2019, Williams established a brand new profession peak in San Francisco. He has been the first-team left tackle on the past three All-Pro squads; that got here after his Washington tenure didn’t include any first-team All-Pro nods. The 49ers lost each the games Williams missed last season, with he and Deebo Samuel‘s absences serving as central reasons for the eventual NFC champions’ midseason swoon.
A panel of anonymous NFL evaluators ranked Williams because the NFL’s top tackle recently, via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and Pro Football Focus slotted Williams as the sport’s best left tackle last season. PFF ranked Williams first amongst all tackles in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Williams’ leverage also comes from the 49ers featuring an O-line with nobody else remotely near Williams’ talent level, with the team keeping costs low around its LT anchor.
The Chiefs pursued Williams in free agency three years ago, helping to drive up the 49ers’ price. Still, Williams signing a six-year contract — one which drove the AAV to a then-OL-record $23.01MM — gave the team considerable control here. Three- and four-year deals have turn out to be the NFL norm for non-quarterbacks, allowing opportunities to money in not long after. As one in all the highest wage earners in NFL history ($171MM — eighth all time), Williams did well to secure a homestretch contract. But his performance has exceeded expectations since.
The Raiders rewarded Maxx Crosby by moving money from future years to 2024; the 49ers would stand to have that option with Williams. He’ll incur fines north of $40K per day by skipping camp. In fact, Williams’ past earnings would give him some solid ground on which to face — depending on how far he plans to go to prove his point.
