49ers decline $10M Williams option, eye new contract
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- 49ers did not exercise the $10 million option bonus on left tackle Trent Williams' contract that was due Friday afternoon, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
- Williams’ salary‑cap figure will climb from $38.84 million to roughly $47 million, with a $22.21 million base salary for 2026.
- John Lynch, the 49ers’ GM, said the team remains optimistic about reaching a new deal before the upcoming NFL draft and cited Williams’ value despite his age.
- Williams has said he hopes for a short extension that adds guarantees and gives the 49ers cap relief, and he wants to play through age 40.
- 49ers have not actively sought a replacement, adding swing tackle Vederian Lowe and retaining exclusive rights to free‑agent Austen Pleasants for depth rather than a starter.
- Williams earned a 2025 Pro Bowl selection and second‑team All‑Pro honors, bringing his career totals to 12 Pro Bowls and five All‑Pro teams.
Why it matters: The 49ers will allocate almost $47 million to Williams in 2026, limiting cap flexibility but preserving a Pro‑Bowl left tackle, while Williams secures a chance at guaranteed money and a contract that could extend his career toward age 40, and forces the team to rely on recent swing‑tackle addition Vederian Lowe and depth player Austen Pleasants.
