So, right after the 49ers wrapped up Brandon Aiyuk’s contract extension, they’ve now sorted things out with Trent Williams. The All-Pro left tackle was back in San Francisco on Tuesday to finalize his new deal, according to his agency.
There are still a few small details to nail down, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo pointed out, but once this deal is signed, it’ll wrap up the team’s big financial moves for the offseason. Before today, Williams had three years left on his contract, but there was no guaranteed money involved. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says that’s set to change now.
Williams had missed the start of training camp, which added to the 49ers’ financial headaches over the summer. There was a lot of chatter about him being traded, with the Steelers even being mentioned. But that became irrelevant when Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract to stay in the Bay Area. Now, Williams will likely stay put as well, with his previous deal set to run through 2026 before today’s updates.
The 11-time Pro Bowler was scheduled to earn $20.9 million in 2024 under his old contract, which had an average annual value of just over $23 million. Williams was pushing for an upgraded deal during an offseason where tackles like Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell, and Christian Darrisaw scored big extensions. However, those were for second contracts, so they’re a bit different from Williams’ situation.
At 36, Williams has hinted at retirement before, but he’s said he plans to play until he’s 40. He’s been named a first-team All-Pro for the last three years and has been a key player on the 49ers’ offensive line. His longevity gave him some leverage for a new deal, though it’ll be interesting to see if the 49ers tacked on any extra years considering his age.
Remember back in 2019 when Williams sat out the whole season trying to get a new deal with Washington? He eventually got traded to the 49ers and signed a six-year contract. That holdout showed how serious he was about negotiating, and while there was talk of him potentially doing the same this summer, it looks like things are moving forward. Regardless of the final details, this means the 49ers’ offense will be at full strength when Week 1 rolls around.
As a seasoned veteran, Williams couldn’t get out of the daily fines he racked up for his training camp holdout. But with over $171 million in career earnings, that wasn’t a dealbreaker. What matters now is that he’s back and ready to play.
