After an offseason that filled to the brim with speculation surrounding Trent Williams' future with the San Francisco 49ers, he once again isn't going anywhere. We've seen this song and dance before. He'll hold out for more money on a new deal, and John Lynch will grant him the contract he desires.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Williams and the 49ers agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension that'll tie him to San Francisco through 2027. Frankly, amid what's been a pivotal offseason in the Bay Area, getting this deal done may be the most important thing the team has accomplished.
Even at 37, Williams remains one of the best tackles in the NFL, and having him protecting Brock Purdy's blind side has been a luxury. Naturally, the Niners know how important the 12-time Pro Bowler is to their offense, so there's no world in which they weren't going to eventually meet his demands or consider trading him.
The 49ers extended Trent Williams just days before the 2026 NFL Draft
Given the uncertainity surrounding the Williams situation, the 49ers were heavily linked to drafting an offensive tackle with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Names like Max Iheanachor, Caleb Lomu, and Kadyn Proctor have been floated, but this news definitely puts a dent in that idea to an extent.
Even with the five-time All Pro under contract through 2027, San Francisco could be in the market to find his long-term successor. But the price of someone like Proctor as a developmental piece when this roster has so many holes is a bit foolish, since they need to add a player who will make a Day 1 impact to capitalize on their contending window.
Williams will be making $25 million in AAV in both 2026 and 2027, and when healthy has shown no signs of slowing down, so there's no reason to get frantic about finding his successor on Thursday, especially when the offensive tackle prospects are one of the strongest areas of this draft class.
The depth at the position means the 49ers could go with a WR or EDGE (or draft a player who falls) with their first-rounder, and address the trenches later. But they've also been linked to adding interor offensive line help, so maybe they play a top OT prospect at guard until Williams retires or leaves.
The NFL Draft will kick off in three days, so in terms of timing, the 49ers couldn't be any better. Now that they have an agreement in place with Williams, they do not have to attack the first round from a place of weakness, which means that all options are on the table for Lynch with the 27th overall pick.
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