How 49ers prioritize George Kittle, other contract extensions

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Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Priority No. 4: 49ers Offensive Tackle Trent Williams

San Francisco received a nice consolation prize by being able to trade for former Washington offensive tackle Trent Williams just minutes before veteran left tackle Joe Staley announced his retirement.

Sending off two mid-round NFL Draft picks in exchange was an amazing way to do it, too.

Williams reworked his remaining one-year deal with the 49ers in a way he’s no longer eligible for the franchise tag in 2021, meaning the only way the Niners keep him is by offering an extension or by re-signing him once free agency begins.

The seven-time Pro Bowler will turn 32 years old by the start of the season and likely has at least a few more quality years left, especially after sitting out his 2019 campaign.

True, the 2021 draft is awfully deep at tackle, and it might be wise for the Niners to get both younger and cheaper here. But if Williams winds up having an exceptional season for San Francisco, it might simply be too hard to let him walk on the open market a little less than a year from now.