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The 49ers have made a big decision on Trent Williams’ contract ss trade rumors continue to swirl
The San Francisco 49ers have work to do this offseason, and in what is becoming a yearly event, the team has found itself stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams‘ contract situation. Once again, the two sides are struggling to find common ground on a reworked contract, which has led to trade rumors swirling around Williams.
This isn’t exactly the first time that Williams has seen his name pop up in trade rumors, but this is the first time where it’s felt like there’s a real shot the Niners could move on from him. However, with a key deadline passing when it comes to Williams’ contract situation, it seems like there may be some positive momentum building in San Fran’s quest to keep him in town.
49ers Don’t Exercise Trent Williams’ Option, But There’s a Catch
Williams has spent the past six years with the Niners, and he has solidified himself as arguably the best left tackle in the league, even as he seemingly approaches the end of his career. Williams has been selected to five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams, three of which have seen him land on the First Team, since arriving in San Francisco.
Over the past few years, though, Williams’ contract situation has become a problem that the 49ers have had to tackle each offseason. Williams is set to enter the final year of his three-year, $82.6 million deal that kicked in back in 2024, but the problem for the 49ers is that a significant amount of that money has been pushed into the final year of this deal.
As a result, Williams is set to carry a massive salary cap hit in the upcoming season. With San Fran looking to create cap space, it has approached Williams, looking to either restructure his deal or sign him to a new one, but no progress has been made, leading to more trade rumors. On Friday, the 49ers chose not to exercise the $10 million option bonus in Williams’ deal, but it was a tactical move, as the front office believes it can rework the star offensive lineman’s contract.
“With today’s 4 pm ET deadline looming, the 49ers are opting not to exercise the $10 million option bonus in Trent Williams’ contract, per sources,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X. “Williams’ salary cap number now will grow to close to $47 million, but the team is not overly concerned about it and it still is planning to rework his contract before next month’s NFL Draft.”
49ers Need to Make a Decision on Trent Williams Soon
GettyTrent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 49ers seem to want to get Williams’ situation resolved before the 2026 NFL Draft, because if they end up moving on from him, they will have to find a replacement for him. General manager John Lynch and the front office seem to believe that there’s a deal to be made here, though, making this a fluid situation that must continue to be monitored.
Even though he will turn 38 years old in July, Williams has remained one of the top players at his position in the NFL, so as long as he keeps playing at a high level, the Niners will have good reason to keep him in town. Williams is going to cost a pretty penny, but with San Francisco having legit Super Bowl aspirations, it would be wise for the front office to find a way to keep him happy for at least one more year.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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