The San Francisco 49ers and star OT Trent Williams are reportedly at a stalemate.
The Niners are adamant about lowering Williams’ $47M cap hit, knowing that they need the financial flexibility to make moves. Williams, however, has refused to agree to a reworked deal.
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US, both sides have made no progress toward an agreement, even if the Niners refuse to let Williams go. However, Williams isn’t going to blink first, given that he has no reason to play for less than the $33 million he’s going to make.
Trent Williams is in no rush to get a deal done
“They aren’t anywhere close to a deal yet,” a source told La Canfora, “and I don’t think anything happens unless the 49ers make a big move.”
Williams has all the leverage in this situation. He knows that he’d become one of the most coveted players in the market if he were to be released or traded, even at 37.
“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,” La Canfora added. “Williams is acutely aware there is a robust market for his services as a free agent or through trade.”
Age and injury concerns will obviously always be a part of the equation with Williams, but he’s still one of the top-tier blindside protectors in the game. The Niners backed themselves into a corner by giving veteran players such big contracts, and they may not be able to dig themselves out of this pit so easily.