Opinion: Will Trent Williams get released?

In one of the most bizarre stories of the offseason, Trent Williams and the 49ers have entered a contract dispute.

Williams is set to have a cap hit of $38.8 million this upcoming season with no more guaranteed money on his deal. General manager John Lynch is working to restructure this deal, but both sides do not seem close to a deal.

Lynch claims that they are “on the right track” towards agreeing on a deal, but time is ticking towards a March 20 deadline, where Williams has a $10 million option bonus vesting. This makes a holdout from the All-Pro tackle very possible.

What would have sounded ridiculous just weeks ago is now a real question: Could Trent Williams possibly be moved?

There’s a very simple way of looking at this. If San Francisco is still looking to compete for a championship, they need to pay Williams.

Even though he will be 38 years old at the start of next season, Williams is still one of the premier left tackles in the league. The 12-time pro-bowler had the third-highest PFF grade of all left tackles in the NFL last season, ranking only behind Penei Sewell and Tristan Wirfs.

Williams has proven to be vital for the success of San Francisco. In the 2025 season, he missed seven games. In that time, the 49ers went just 1-6.

In fact, since joining the team in 2020, San Francisco is 4-13 when Williams did not play, compared to a 61-32 record with him on the field.

The 49ers need Trent Williams to not only be successful but also competent. When also considering that Williams has already expressed a desire to play until at least age 40, adding at least another year to his deal is an obvious decision.

However, as we have seen widespread across the league, the only thing that could override a seemingly straightforward decision is cheapness in ownership. If the 49ers try to cheap out on someone as valuable as Williams, almost any other team in the league would shell out the money to acquire him.

Now, for a team to be appealing to Williams, they would need to fit a couple of different criteria. They would likely need to have a postseason, as Williams would not waste his final years as part of a rebuilding project.

They would also need the cap space to pay him what he deserves, while not having a great player at the left tackle position already.

Teams that fit these standards include the Bengals, Rams, Steelers, Commanders, and, if they would be willing to try out Will Campbell at right tackle, the Patriots.

Now, none of this should matter if the 49ers know what is best for them. Williams has arguably been, if not the best tackle in the NFL over the last decade. Even into his later years, he has continued to perform as one of the best players in the league, who will be worth any contract he signs.

Championship windows do not last forever. When you have a chance to keep talent like this, you need to do it. San Francisco needs to pay Trent Williams.

Brendan Kern is a second-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email bwk5372@psu.edu