San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams might be willing to play hardball while holding out for a new contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday that Williams “is not going to be available until he gets his contract adjusted.” That’s putting his status for the Niners’ Week 1 meeting with the New York Jets in jeopardy
Williams still has three years left to run on the six-year, $138.1 million extension he signed with San Francisco in 2021. However, he no longer has any guaranteed salary left on the deal, and he has watched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tristan Wirfs and Detroit Lions’ Penei Sewell reset the tackle market this offseason.
The 49ers are stuck in a bind.
Williams was an All-Pro for the third straight season in 2023 and deserves a lot of credit for the team tying for the sixth-fewest sacks allowed (34). He’s one of the most important players on the roster, one the reigning NFC champion can ill afford to be without.
But Williams also turned 36 in July, so adding more years to his deal would potentially mean having him under contract into his 40s.
San Francisco’s payroll situation means general manager John Lynch has to be judicious with his long-term spending as well.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is also angling for a new contract, one that would almost assuredly bump his salary to $30-plus million annually. Quarterback Brock Purdy, wideout Deebo Samuels and tight end George Kittle are free agents in 2026. In the secondary, Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga are both headed for free agency in 2025.
Lynch can’t keep everybody and bumping up Williams’ salary even a few million dollars would mean having less cash available.
On her Scoop City podcast, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Aug. 13 that Williams and the 49ers have so far failed to make “significant movement” in negotiations. Based on Fowler’s newest report, one of the two sides will have to blink in order for San Francisco to have its starting left tackle back.