Trent Williams ends contract dispute with Niners on eve of NFL opener
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams has ended his contract extension and rejoined the San Francisco 49ers to finalize a new deal.
Williams’ agency, Elite Loyalty Sports, posted on social media Tuesday that Williams would rejoin the team six days before the season opener against the New York Jets.
Williams was back in Texas for the entire training camp to try to negotiate a new deal. He was hit with more than $5 million in mandatory fines for missing training camp and three preseason games.
But he’s now on the verge of a new contract, with the 49ers having resolved both of their major contract disputes before the season opener. San Francisco last week signed star receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension, ending his “hold in” contract.
The moves mean the Niners will have nearly every key player from last season’s standout offense back to start the 2024 season. The only players missing who played at least 200 snaps on offense last season are reliever Jon Feliciano, backup tight end Charlie Woerner and No. 4 receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.
Bringing back Williams is perhaps the most important move of the offseason. In a star-studded lineup, the left tackle is the most irreplaceable part.
Williams, 36, was due to earn $20 million this season under the six-year, $138 million deal he signed in 2021, but is now signing a new deal to replace the final three years of his current contract.
Williams’ average annual value of just over $23 million has been surpassed by five offensive linemen since he became the richest player at the position when he signed the contract. Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all received deals worth at least $26 million per year this offseason.
Williams has been widely regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in the game in recent years. He has been an All-Pro left tackle for the past three seasons and has been a major reason for San Francisco’s offensive success.
The Niners open the season Monday night against the Jets in San Francisco.