49ers Made Recent Offer To LT Trent Williams

As things stand, Williams is entering the final season of a three-year, $82.6MM pact. The 49ers declined a $10MM option bonus in March, leading to a major increase in Williams’ cap hit. He was already on track to count an untenable $38.84MM before then. The number now sits at a bloated $46.34MM. Williams is also owed around $33MM, though none of that is guaranteed.

While the 49ers want to lower Williams’ 2026 salary by about $9MM, La Canfora notes he would still rank among the 10 highest-paid tackles. The 12-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer has a case to earn more, but his age (38 in July) and injury history are working against him. Williams has not put together a full season since he was in Washington in 2013. Although he missed just one game during another highly effective year in 2025, Williams racked up multiple absences in each season from 2015-24.

League sources told La Canfora that the 49ers and Williams may find common ground “early this week.” If the stalemate continues, though, a trade or a release could eventually occur. The 49ers were reportedly open to trading Williams as of early March. There is still “legitimate” interest from other teams, per La Canfora. If he and the 49ers still don’t hammer out a new pact in the next couple of weeks, perhaps a team that did not adequately upgrade at left tackle in the draft will kick the tires on a Williams trade.

For their part, considering the uncertainty surrounding Williams, the 49ers could target the position early in the draft. They made a modest free agent investment in Vederian Lowe, who spent most of last season as a reserve in New England. Austen Pleasants is also in the mix as a backup left tackle, but he and Lowe are big steps down from Williams.

If the 49ers cut or trade Williams between now and June 1, it would leave them with a $34.15MM dead cap hit and $12.19MM in savings. A post-June 1 divorce would save upward of $33MM in spending space in 2026. The 49ers would spread the dead cap over two years, taking a $13.33MM charge next season and a $20.83MM hit in 2027.