Two of the 49ers’ best offensive players, LT Trent Williams and WR Brandon Aiyuk, are seeking new and/or improved contracts, with Williams staging a holdout and Aiyuk engaging in a hold-in. Williams’ endeavor is a little more unusual, as he is 36 and under contract for three more seasons, while Aiyuk is 26 and is currently on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.
That said, Williams continues to perform like the future Hall of Famer that he is, having earned First Team All-Pro honors in each of his first three years in San Francisco. His importance to the club’s offensive operation is unmistakable, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Niners to address Williams’ deal in some way (subscription required).
When it comes to Williams’ contract, Fowler uses the term “rework” rather than “extend,” which our Sam Robinson suggested when Williams’ holdout was first reported and which makes sense in light of the blocker’s age and remaining club control. While there is no guaranteed money left on Williams’ deal, he is obviously in no danger of being released this season, so his $20.05MM base salary for the 2024 campaign is not in jeopardy.
However, his deal now slots in fifth among offensive tackles in terms of AAV, and regardless of the length of a contract when it is signed, an NFL club’s brass cannot be terribly surprised when a high-performing player seeks additional security after the guarantees on that contract run out. Per Fowler, Williams “has conviction” in his holdout, and as a player who has secured over $170MM in his playing career, he is not terribly concerned about the $50K in non-waivable fines that accrue with each day of camp that he misses.
While Williams and Aiyuk play different positions and are at very different stages of their careers, their contract situations do impact each other. As Fowler notes, Aiyuk is not budging from his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, and San Francisco is unwilling to authorize a contract at or near the top of a ballooning WR market that now has four players making at least $30MM per season. The ESPN scribe says negotiations between player and team have not progressed, and that trade offers may ultimately become too tempting for the Niners to pass up.
If San Francisco does move Aiyuk, giving Williams a raise would become much easier. One way or another, the team realizes it may need to undergo a “thoughtful reset” of its salary cap in the near future, meaning that it will need to part ways with a number of high-end players in order to remain competitive over the long haul. Of course, quarterback Brock Purdy will likely land a massive extension next season, adding another expensive contract to a roster that currently has seven players earning between $15MM-$34MM per year, with a few others just below that $15MM/year threshold.
Ironic seeing “Conviction” in the headline of an NFL article…
Washington can tell you how worthless Williams is if he doesn’t get his way. Trade him to Cleveland or Baltimore let them deal with the headache.
I think going from having the best left tackle in football to having a bad offensive line would be a bigger headache.
Ehh, perhaps, but how much is Williams worth? A lot, certainly, but what player do you give up because your top five contract doesn’t satisfy your 36 year old tackle anymore? Besides, it’s not like there’s any guarantee, based on Williams’ past history, that he’d be content with the new arrangement. He worked his way out of Washington, and signed this deal himself. I’m not sure why he suddenly doesn’t like it.
I’m normally for players getting guarantees, but this seems pretty arbitrary by Williams. Does he really think that he’s in danger of missing on a payout with three years left on a deal, playing at the level that he is?
I think ultimately the answer is going to be parting with at least one of their big receivers, given that they just used a first round pick on one. Williams is the hardest to replace and he has the leverage of being willing to retire. We’ve seen him win a game of chicken before. He has no guaranteed salary left. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just add some short term guaranteed money. They gave McCaffrey new money when his guarantees were out, but his contract wasn’t.
I could see it. That seems like the best solution, to just convert a chunk of money to a signing bonus or the like to get it paid. The thing that gets me here is the timing. Williams knows that the 9ers are dealing with Aiyuk right now-surely he realizes that his hold out will not result in an immediate offer. I mean, it’s not like he suddenly realized that he has three years left without guarantees.
I think the Niners did some of this to themselves by giving McCaffrey a bunch more money.
Fair enough, but Williams also pushed hard for this deal. It makes more difficult to sympathize with him when he suddenly doesn’t want to play on it. At the very least, it’d seem prudent to engage in this struggle after the Aiyuk business is settled. He is compensated well, just not in guarantees. Whatever number he accepts will be very large, and as great as he is and has been, that money could be used on multiple players at multiple positions.
I actually don’t see Williams’ retirement threat as a for sure a plus for his argument, though. It could be, if San Fran is desperate to keep him, but if they’re not, then they probably will see that as more evidence that Williams is at the end of his career. San Fran would lose out at Williams’ position if he retired, for sure, but they could use the relief that could come from a player who may retire at any time that he wants to, anyway. Williams will be willing to play more if he gets more money, we think, but is there a chance that he changes his mind and just says, “screw it, I’m retiring”? I think there is, especially after the cancer episode or whatever the health scandal was that he had in getting to San Fran. Even a guarantee commitment might not be ironclad. Holding out, in his case, makes him look more laissez-faire about the matter, which in his case, doesn’t help the guarantee that he won’t walk away on his end. That works if the team is desperate, but it might hurt if they have their questions about Williams’ commitment.
At the end of the day, I think that they give him guarantees. I don’t think that it’ll be for the full three years that he has left. I’d wager one or two, but San Fran is definitely pushing up their timeline for a replacement investment if they haven’t already.
I have to assume they’d be pretty desperate. I think they’re screwed without him.
I suppose that we differ a little there. I think that they’d be pretty hurt, but I think that they’re a high end playoff team without Williams as well. Re-signing Aiyuk could help offset that loss. If it were up to me, I actually think that Williams is more valuable than Aiyuk is, personally, but Williams’ age and retirement comments give me some pause.
Consider what happens if the 9ers win the Superbowl-would Williams go ahead and retire? If you let Aiyuk walk or trade him, and stick with Williams and he retires, that would possibly be a bad look. Don’t get me wrong, I know how valuable Williams is, I just don’t think that his timing or strategy is ideal for the 9ers in their Superbowl window, and I do think that there could be other advantages from losing that cap commitment in other areas (though, undoubtedly, there would be a loss at that tackle spot).
Aiyuk is not going to get top tier money from them. He is very good, but they go through CMC, Deebo running and short passes, Kittle maybe 3rd if they don’t keep him blocking.
He is there 3rd or 4th threat to the defense, they are not focusing gameplans on him.
If they don’t get a deal done by pre season week 2 I think they have to trade him. He would be a distraction.
Aiyuk led them in targets by 15. 22% of all their passing attempts went his direction.
Yes but he is getting those because DCs gameplan to stop CMC & Deebo running attack.
Aiyuk is not getting doubled and exotic looks. If a team trades for him he will be #1 and won’t have that kind of help he currently has.
And he’ll still thrive, because he creates separation and makes the plays. That will travel. He was also their main weapon on third downs. I’m not saying he doesn’t benefit from the other guys (they benefit from him too), but he’s a legit number one receiver.
The 49ers are playing the same “Yes we want you/No we don’t want you” game with Aiyuk that they played with Jimmy G. I think he’s already become an unnecessary distraction.
Jags should nab Trent. Their LT is a FA after this year anyways. Put a HoF LT to block for Trevor. Let’s see if the guy is a great QB or not. Well worth a mid round pick. They have the cap as well. Then Lawrence would have a solid running game, TE, and brand new WR to work with.
Funny… good one
Is Cam better than Trent? I don’t think so. Time for the Jags to be aggressive. Same for the Cards. They claim to have their QB & WR corp, but know they have an average line. Go get players to help win this year.
I think the funny thing is you saying mid round pick for the best LT in the NFL. Not even getting that deal on madden
What’s a 36 year old LT needing a new deal worth is then a 2nd round pick? Who cares. Jags and Cards overpaid for their QB’s. Might as well throw everything you have to support them.
I bet 50% of 1st round picks either wash out or are average, why not go for a HoFer? But you’re like most of the league, timid for big deals. Philly and Rams would disagree and won a bunch w/ their respective GM’s.
Why on earth would the team coming off a Super Bowl appearance and currently the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl this year trade their all pro left tackle for a future pick? He’s the most important player on their team and they are just going to give him away because it’s time for another front office to be aggressive? Surely you can see how ridiculous of a suggestion that is right?
‘Why on earth would the team coming off a Super Bowl appearance and currently the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl this year trade their all pro left tackle for a future pick?’
Why on earth won’t they re-up him then? He’s old and expensive & they need to shell out 20%+ of their cap next year to Purdy, let alone Aiyuk’s deal. b
Can’t keep them all.
Oh I don’t know maybe because he is under contract for 3 more years? So they should trade him to the Jaguars now because they are going to have to pay Purdy next season? This is really your stance? Just completely throw away this season when you have a team good enough to be favored to win the Super Bowl because NEXT SEASON you are going to have to give your QB a big contract. How can you not grasp how outrageously foolish that sounds? Hahaha
I don’t think that it sounds that foolish conceptually, if they can’t afford Williams’ demands. It wouldn’t, and shouldn’t, be San Francisco’s first choice, but it needs to be discussed to decide what it would take.the new team would have to commit at least a top five guaranteed salary to make this happen, so a first round pick for a 36 year old demanding that sort of money probably won’t happen. As for San Fran, a low pick wouldn’t be worth it-unless they for sure know that they won’t satisfy Williams’ demands.
The issue with this trade, though, is that if Williams gets traded, he’d probably retire. That is what would kill the value of that deal. Unless Williams agrees to be open to the idea of another team paying him, he’s not going anywhere. I ultimately expect the 9ers to add a year or two of guarantees for Williams, but to explore the characteristics of a trade would be common sense for executives in this situation. Williams has enough money and comfort in retiring to nuke any potential deal, which gives him leverage. If, however, he has teams that he’d be okay playing for, it could happen.
He may be under contract, but he’s not working. Starving teams (Jags, Cards) will overpay for success, milk them. Baltimore is infamous for letting vets walk or answer their trade demands and always remain successful.
Draft and develop is the key to sustained success in the NFL. Teams that can do it, succeed; the others draft in the top 10 annually (Jags, Cards).
Dude he’s the best tackle in the league and is trying to save his body by not going through camp. This is not the first time he has done this. At no point did the 49ers act like they weren’t going to pay him. They will pay his fines and give him a bump in salary. This kind of thing happens in the NFL a lot for star players did you just start following the league last week? Regardless you need to put down the pipe this has less than a 0% chance of happening. Probably the most ridiculous idea I have ever seen in the comments on here to be honest.
Chiefs heard “has conviction” and assumed it was one of their players.
Williams will sign. This is how you keep an aging lineman fresh, by letting him skip offseason work he doesn’t need at this point. It’s “costing him” 50k a day, which the team will pay for him. 9ers will give him a raise of some kind, and it will be done at the most strategically important time.
They might already have something worked out, a big guy his age probably doesn’t want to be out there in this heat wave. A guy with his experience doesn’t really need it anyways, he’s the best left tackle in football.