Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in, creating a will-they/won’t-they trade dynamic now involving the Steelers, has overshadowed 49ers training camp. But the team has also been without a much more accomplished starter since reporting. Trent Williams‘ holdout persists.
The 49ers cannot waive fines levied to Williams for missing camp practices, as the holdout left tackle is not tied to a rookie contract. The future Hall of Famer has accumulated more than $1MM in fines during his holdout, but the 49ers are not shutting down the prospect of adjusting his six-year contract.
“We’re having a lot of discussions with his agent,” Shanahan said, via 49ersWebZone.com. “Trent’s not here right now, obviously not at camp. I believe he’s in Houston, but I’m not sure. But we’re talking with his agent a lot, and hopefully, we can figure it out. As I’ve said the whole time, I am optimistic we will, but, of course, the sooner, the better.”
A recent report indicated the 49ers should be expected to address Williams’ deal in some way. It would surprise if a true extension came to pass, as Williams is 36 and signed through the 2026 season. Significant movement took place on the tackle market this offseason, with Tristan Wirfs and Christian Darrisaw raising the ceiling at left tackle and Penei Sewell coming in with a deal that established a new tier among right tackles. Williams has been the NFL’s first-team All-Pro LT for the past three seasons and is making an effort to secure better terms as a result.
The 49ers moving some of Williams’ future money into 2024 could be an option here, with incentives also potentially in the equation. Williams landed a then-tackle-record $23MM AAV when he signed a six-year, $138.1MM deal in 2021. The former Washington top-five pick, however, took a risk the market would move again by signing for such a lengthy term. Of course, Williams — who once engaged in a memorable stalemate with Washington, leading to the San Francisco trade — may have viewed a future holdout as an option when he signed the six-year contract.
A wide talent gulf exists between Williams and the other four 49ers O-line starters. The team, which has some notable payments to other stars on its roster, has opted to keep costs low everywhere else on its offensive front. The 49ers lost both games (not counting a Week 18 matchup in which the team rested starters) Williams did not finish last season, and the 15th-year veteran certainly seems to recognize his value to the team.
Williams, who is tied to a $20.1MM base salary on a contract that has seen its guarantees paid out, is testing the 49ers’ resolve. Though, given his importance, it should not be expected — at least, not just yet — that the 49ers would dare go into the season without their standout left tackle.
Niners’ players acting like they won the Superbowls they lost.
It takes two to tango. The 49ers front office is compensating for those lost SBs by chasing an award for posturing. Their playing the “we want you/we don’t want you” game with every player looking for a better deal.
So he took the comfort of an at the time record long term deal while over a short term deal that might have gotten him more money in the long run. If he was healthy and if OL contracts increased, or his play stayed strong.
But now he wants more money. Screw that. He signed a deal while accepting the various possible outcomes. Now that he doesn’t line the outcomes, he wants more a new deal. But if he had been injured or his play level dropped, would he want to renegotiate still?
Teams have to put an end to this tactic. Otherwise every player will be putting a gun to managements head demanding a new contract and getting it.
Let him stay out, let him accrue fines, and see if he changes his tune. Sucks for the rest of the team, of course. But rewarding bad behavior only creates more of it.
This is the same team that just gave new guarantees and a raise to their 28 year old running back who was already under contract and already the highest paid at his position by a decent margin. Can’t expect your league best left tackle to not notice.