The San Francisco 49ers are two weeks away from the beginning of the 2024 NFL regular season. While the defending NFC Champions are expected to, once again, be one of the best teams in the NFL, they are currently without two of their best offensive players due to contract disputes.
Second Team All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was present all throughout training camp but refused to participate in any practices while his contract extension was negotiated. A deal is still not done, but he has already turned down two trades and is holding off on accepting an offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers while he waits on the 49ers and his representatives in their continued talks.
The other player that is in a contract dispute with San Francisco is 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who currently has three years left on his contract.
Why Is San Francisco 49ers Left Tackle Trent Williams Holding Out?
As mentioned, Williams has three years left on his current contract, which will run through the 2026 NFL season when he will be 38 years old.
Clearly, due to his current age and how old he will be when his contract expires, he is not likely seeking another extension.
So why the holdout?
The answer can be found in the 2025 and 2026 seasons of his current deal. When Williams signed his six-year $138 million contract extension, he received a $30 million signing bonus and a total guarantee of $55.1 million.
The contract was also structured so that the first four seasons of his deal would have cap hits of $8.1 million, $9.6 million, $12.6 million, and $10.8 million respectively.
After the 2024 season, his final two years carry cap hits of $34.1 million and $37.8 million. In 2025, the 49ers could save $15 million by releasing him. If he were to play in 2025 under the terms of his current deal, they could release in 2026 and save $29 million.
In other words, his guaranteed money will have been paid by the time the 2024 season ends and he has no security that he will not be released to save money on the 2025 cap when the season ends.
San Francisco 49ers Left Tackle Trent Williams Will Not Play Until His Contract Situation Is Resolved
Speaking on SportsCenter today, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler revealed that Williams has informed the 49ers that he is willing to holdout into the regular season if his contract situation is not resolved before Week One.
Fowler stated (via NBC Sports Bay Area), “I was told from somebody involved in the situation that he is not going to be available until he gets his contract adjusted. He’s got three years left on his deal. That could bleed into the regular season with us just being [two] weeks away. This is a player who’s made about $150 million in his career.
“He’s been taking up golf, kind of staying away from the team, doing his own thing. Training of course, getting ready for the season potentially. He’s not overly stressed to have to be out there right now, and he’s the fourth-highest-paid left tackle despite being the best in the last few years.”
What can San Francisco do to get him back with the team? The most logical thing would be to adjust his guaranteed money. However, that in and of itself is complicated by the Aiyuk contract negotiations as well as the extensions they will need to dish out to other star players in the next two years.
They will have to get something done soon, though, because Brock Purdy needs his blindside protected.
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