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49ers’ Trent Williams plan has emerged after declining $10 million bonus

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Mar 20, 2026 5:05 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers had a tough decision to make on Friday regarding star offensive lineman Trent Williams.

The team had until 4 p.m. ET on Friday to exercise his $10 million bonus, but they declined to do so, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

However, the 49ers do plan on reworking his contract leading up to the NFL Draft.

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. 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… pic.twitter.com/uvCahjbNYW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2026

In 2021, Williams signed a six-year, $138 million deal with the 49ers. In 2024, he held out of camp in hopes of a reworked deal, and it ended up with Williams getting a three-year deal worth over $80 million.

That means Williams is in the final year of that contract, and reports surfaced previously that the 49ers might release the All-Pro tackle if they couldn’t work out a new deal.

Williams is a 12-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, and he will be in his seventh year with San Francisco if the two sides can come to a deal.

So, even though the 49ers decided not to exercise the bonus, the front office intends to get to work in hopes of landing a new deal sometime soon.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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