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nick wagner
multiple authors
Santa Clara, California — The san francisco 49ers‘Stars not exercising $10 million option bonus on left tackle trent williamsThe contract was due Friday afternoon, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Williams’ salary cap number will now rise to closer to $47 million, sources told Schefter, but the team isn’t too concerned about it and still plans to rework his contract ahead of next month’s NFL Draft.
Williams and the Niners have struggled to find consensus on a contract despite negotiating for most of the offseason. Williams is expected to enter the 2026 season with no guaranteed money or years left on his deal after 2026. Before Friday, his salary cap number was $38.84 million, including a base salary of $22.21 million.
Despite the parties’ struggle to reach an agreement again, Niners general manager John Lynch is optimistic that something will be done.
“This is what I know,” Lynch said at last month’s combine. “Trent loves being a Niner. We love keeping Trent as a Niner, and it’s up to us to figure it out and thread the needle. There are some unique circumstances in that, we all know what Trent is as a player, what a great player he is. He’s about to be 38 years old and so there are some things that go into it. But I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positive about where this goes. Has been.”
Although there was speculation that the 49ers might move on from Williams, they did not actively look to do so.
San Francisco lacks a proven replacement for Williams on the roster. Niners add swing tackle wedrian lowe From new England Patriots In free agency and retained free agent exclusive rights Austin Pleasants But looking for depth rather than a step up for Williams as a starter.
For his part, Williams told ESPN in February that he hoped the team would make some changes with his contract, perhaps in the form of a short extension that would provide him further guarantees and give the 49ers additional 2026 cap relief. He also expressed hope that such a deal would be reached.
Williams will turn 38 on July 19 and has repeatedly told ESPN that he would like to play until he is 40.
Williams earned another Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors in 2025, bringing his career totals to 12 Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams.
“We love having him,” Lynch said in February. “My hope is, and I’ve shared this with Trent, that his name is up on the list of great players to play for the Niners because he certainly fits into that category.”
