The San Francisco 49ers have entered 2024 training camp without not one, but two valuable assets on the offensive side of the football.
Brandon Aiyuk’s situation has been widely reported, but Trent Williams’ situation flew under the radar. The star offensive tackle has held out of training camp in pursuit of a new contract.
Williams Unhappy With Current Deal, Holding Out From 49ers Camp
Williams, the All-Pro left tackle who’s been widely considered the best at his position across the league, is reportedly unhappy with his current contract, hence why the star is holding out.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan detailed with reporters where things stand on that front.
“It’s contract-related,” Shanahan said to confirm the reason behind Williams’ absence. “[General manager] John [Lynch] is speaking with his representatives — he’s been doing it for a while. He will continue to go, and when they work it out, I’ll be pumped to see him.”
The two-time NFC champion head coach himself even had a gut feeling Williams wouldn’t immediately take part in the start of 49ers camp.
“It was something I knew could be a possibility,” Shanahan said. “I was hoping he would be here, but I knew it could be a possibility.”
Regardless, Shanahan isn’t wavering from believing Williams will show up eventually.
“I feel pretty confident it will all work out in the long run and he’ll be here and we’ll get on the same page with everything. But it’s just one day of practice, and I think Trent will be alright missing a few practices,” Shanahan said.
How Much Money Could Williams Earn on Next Contract?
When Williams stroked his signature on the deal he signed in 2021, he became the richest offensive tackle in the game.
But the market has since changed for Williams and his left tackle peers.
Despite delivering an astonishing 11 Pro Bowl appearances, including three All-Pro nods, Williams makes less than three LTs in the NFL.
Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions earns $28 million per year compared to the $23 million Williams rakes in. Laremy Tunsil of the Houston Texans is another LT making more than Williams at $25 million annually. Lastly, Andrew Thomas of the New York Giants collects $23.5 million per year. Of the trio, Thomas has yet to become a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for his team.
KEEP READING: The NFL’s Highest-Paid Offensive Tackles
Given Williams’ consistency of dominance, it’s easy to see why he wants a newer deal. However, he’s facing some notable dilemmas.
For starters, Williams turned 36 years old before camps across the league began. He’s doing more than facing Father Time — he’s hit the part of his career where shoulders, hands, and feet start to show wear and tear.
Secondly, the 49ers are again dealing with Aiyuk’s situation, which is another major dilemma considering the blockbuster state of the WR market. After producing back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Aiyuk has cemented his case for earning his own mega deal.
Williams likely wants his own market-altering deal. But given his age, the 49ers’ front office is likely showing concern over how much longer Williams can play a rugged position at such a high level.
It’s likely that Williams wants a deal that earns him more annually than Sewell. But that could also set back the 49ers’ salary cap, as they currently have $31.4 million left in cap space ahead of 2024, according to Over the Cap.
There is no question about it: Williams is a future Hall-of-Famer. He’s a big reason why paths get cleared for Christian McCaffrey, plus why Brock Purdy gets time to throw. But Williams may have to settle for a deal that either matches Sewell or slightly surpasses his yearly earnings — even if it means getting handed a two or three-year contract.
