The 49ers have had contract disputes with two big stars this preseason, but with midnight approaching, the organization is optimistic that Trent Williams will soon be on the team.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch spoke briefly about the matter on Wednesday. Although neither man shed much light on contract negotiations with Williams, signs continue to point to a revised deal being reached in the near future.
But from now on, nothing has changed for the player or the franchise.
“No, there's no news there,” Lynch said of Trent Williams. “The communication is good. We're constantly working, throwing ideas around to try and get a breakthrough, but so far it just hasn't happened.”
What makes Trent Williams' situation even more unique is the timing.
The future Hall of Famer has three years left on his contract, during which he will earn a total of almost $80 million. The problem: There is no more guaranteed money. And at 36 years old, the hourglass of his playing career is slowly ticking down.
Although the 49ers would prefer him to continue playing under his current contract, they understand the predicament of their star left tackle.
“The situation with Trent, things come up. And that's what happened. Trent is a fantastic player. He's a great leader on this team. I'll never stop praising Trent and what he's meant to this place,” Lynch said. “It was a great day when I got that call from [former NFL coach Ron Rivera] They said they were going to make this trade. He's been incredible since he's been here. We appreciate Trent, we love Trent, we want Trent here. And I'm confident that can happen soon.”
Both of Lynch's statements are true: Trent Williams is an invaluable member of the 49ers, both on and off the field.
The Texan native has been the driving force of the Red & Gold's offensive line since joining the team in 2020. Williams has allowed just one sack in his last 983 pass-blocking snaps. He's also a tank in the run game and, in his mid-30s, still moves like a star player at his best.
But it's about more than just performance. Trent Williams is one of the team's captains and is regularly seen on game days alongside wide receiver Deebo Samuel in their infamous boombox entrance out of the tunnel. He's also the enforcer, standing by anyone who gets in the way of one of his teammates on the field.
Because of his recognized status, Williams gets away with a lot more than the average player. I mean, he's the only 49er with two lockers.
That's why neither Shanahan nor Lynch are worried that Williams will perform at the right time, even if it takes a few weeks for him to get into game shape.
“It all depends on when we see him, how he looks, how he feels. I haven't spoken to him in a few days. But Trent will give it every day, we'll make it as close as possible,” Shanahan said. “Very similar to [Nick] Bosa. There was no day on the calendar that we would mark as our last day. You hope that every day that is already over is it. So every day makes it harder and harder. But you don't make that decision until you see someone and talk to them.”
So what's stopping the deal from being finalized? To put it bluntly: money, and lots of it.
Trent Williams wants to re-establish his contract at the top of the left tackle market. When he signed a six-year deal with the 49ers in 2021, he became the highest-paid player at his position. Now, in 2024, he's sixth.
It may seem insignificant (especially now), but all of this is connected. Having financial security will allow Williams to focus on football on the field instead of worrying about injuries and an uncertain future.
It's very easy to look at the situation from a million miles up. But put yourself in his shoes: After 14 years of dominating the NFL and becoming one of the best players of all time at your position, wouldn't you want to continue to be the highest-paid player? And set new precedents for the position of offensive lineman?
Everyone has a price they're not willing to pay, and that goes for Trent Williams too. But considering what he's meant to the organization in the past, it wouldn't be a surprise if he gets rewarded in the present and future.
Therefore, the 49ers are quite confident that their star player will be on the field in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
“I'm optimistic that Trent will be OK. I'm not sitting here not knowing what day it will be. We're about to play a game, so I'm fully focused on preparing for a game without those guys. [Williams and Brandon Aiyuk]”But yeah, I think when both sides want to make a deal, that's usually what happens,” Shanahan said.
Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers schedule for 2024:
Regular season
- Monday, September 9 vs. New York Jets – 5:15 p.m. PDT
- Sunday, September 15 @Minnesota Vikings – 10am PDT
- Sunday, September 22 – @ Los Angeles Rams – 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Sunday, September 29 vs. New England Patriots – 1:05 p.m. PDT
- Sunday, October 6 vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 p.m. PDT
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