Photo credit: 49ers
The top priority of the 49ers’ offseason has been handled. After months of speculation over whether Trent Williams would stick around, we finally have confirmation.
According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, Williams will stay with the 49ers, signing an absolutely massive six-year, $138 million deal worth $23 million per year. Williams becomes the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history and ties David Bakhtiari’s league-high, $23 million per year average salary, but his total of $138 million quickly surpasses Bakhtiari’s brief record of $105.5 million.
Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers deal is for 6 years, $138 million.
He is the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
Of the $55,100,000 guaranteed
$30,100,000 million is a signing bonus.
The deal was done by @elsportsllc@loyalty24_7— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 17, 2021
Though the nervousness around keeping Williams was understandable given that he’s arguably the league’s best tackle and tackles rarely, if ever make it to the open market, every indication was that Williams would return. He lauded praise over Kyle Shanahan and the front office during the season and after it, speaking glowingly of the organization at just about every opportunity.
What was evident about Williams’ situation is that while he wanted to get fair market value, he also wanted to remain with the 49ers in a situation he finally felt good about after years with an organization he distrusted. That the interest was mutual.
Locking up Williams for the foreseeable future means that the 49ers now only have a hole at center to plug, with the reported pending retirement of Weston Richburg. A Kyle Shanahan reunion with former Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack wouldn’t seem too far-fetched.