As the NFL preseason rages on, the San Francisco 49ers are without one of their best players at the moment in left tackle Trent Williams.
Brandon Aiyuk’s contract dispute has received a lion share of the media coverage, but Williams may have a bigger effect on the 49ers than the wide receiver, and the offensive lineman is looking to get paid. On Saturday’s edition of Fowler Files, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided an update on Williams’ holdout.
“I’m told Trent Williams is playing golf right now. Literally, he’s chilling,” Fowler said, via SportsCenter. “I’m told that if they want his services, then they need to adjust the contract. Like, that’s just the way it is. He’s made $150-some-million in his career, 35-years-old. Best left tackle in the game, but only the fifth highest-paid, or forth highest-paid left tackle, so they’ve got to get something done here. I’m told that he’s willing to hold out even longer.
“The issue is, if they would’ve traded [Brandon] Aiyuk, it’s much easier to get this deal done. Now, they’re trying to juggle both contracts at the same time. It’s been tricky, but Aiyuk’s sort of been the priority, because it’s urgent, but Williams, they’ve got to adjust it, really in the next week or two.”
Of course, the 49ers would be well served to keep both Aiyuk and Williams happy, and it looks like that’s what they’re going to attempt, but there’s only so much money to go around in the NFL. Regardless, losing either player would be a big blow, but it looks like both could remain in San Francisco.
As for the effect on the team Williams’ holdout is having, it seems like he has the support of his teammates at the moment, as he tries to right what he believes is a wrong in his contract.
“Trent’s an incredible leader,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk told reporters, via 49ers Webzone. “He’s got this aura around him that, obviously, we all think so highly of him, and he’s so talented. People seem to gravitate to him.
“So when he’s around, it builds a camaraderie. It definitely pushes other offensive linemen to meet that standard. But I really am confident that he’ll be here soon, and I think we’ll get things figured out.”
Additionally, George Kittle heaped some praise on his teammate, as well: “Trent Williams is Trent Williams,” Kittle said. “He’s like the greatest football player to ever play the game. It’s like him and Aaron Donald—I mean, that I’ve played against. For all the people who are going to list off 90s and 80s players, I’m sorry. But the best I’ve ever played with.
“And he’s also like a massive human being. He’s a silverback. He just has a presence to him, and so not having him in the locker room at all and stuff like that, it’s weird. But we all love Trent, and he’s doing what he thinks is best for him, so it’s okay.”
Alas, Trent Williams and the 49ers will likely work something out for 2024, but the sooner, the better for San Francisco, as they have Super Bowl aspirations once again this season.
