Friday marked a pivotal moment for Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers. The team faced a 1 p.m.
PT deadline to exercise a $10 million option bonus in Williams’ contract. This bonus, designed to be spread out in $2.5 million increments over four years for salary cap management, was a team option.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers decided against exercising this option. As a result, Williams’ salary cap hit will increase from $38 million to over $47 million.
Despite this, Schefter reported that the 49ers remain unfazed and plan to renegotiate his contract before the upcoming NFL Draft. If an extension is reached, the team could save approximately $16.8 million in cap space for the 2026 season, while a simple restructure would save about $15.7 million.
Currently, Williams holds the sixth-highest contract value among left tackles, ranking third annually but only 17th in guarantees. This disparity likely underpins the current negotiations. When a new deal is finalized, expect Williams’ position in total guarantees to climb significantly, potentially moving him closer to the top five among left tackles.