For all intents and purposes, Trent Williams is one of the best offensive tackles in NFL history. He should walk into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. In particular, the perennial Pro Bowler has been a mainstay for the San Francisco 49ers during their Super Bowl-contending era in the 2020s. This iteration of the 49ers would not nearly be the same without Williams acting as a road grater in the running game and a brick wall in the passing game.
Unfortunately, due to salary cap constraints, the 49ers and the 37-year-old Williams might be forced to part ways.
That's according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, who maintains that Williams' pending roughly $39 million salary cap hit for the 2026 season has become a bit problematic for San Francisco. Both the 49ers and Williams are apparently trying to find a restructuring solution that keeps him in the Bay Area, because duh. But if that doesn't happen in this standoff, Williams will become an unrestricted free agent.
In a word: Whoa.
With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources. If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams… pic.twitter.com/gJlCpTHSlz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2026
Don't let Williams' age fool you.
Even if he's likely close to the end of his NFL career, he remains an elite player. He is still more than capable of being a cornerstone for any offensive line. A Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2025 says as much. If Williams really does hit the open market as a free agent in the coming days, he should be considered the top player available, no questions asked. He'd be a massive loss for the 49ers and a major boon to whichever NFL team can afford to pay him what he wants.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Trent Williams hit NFL free agency? Latest on 49ers OT's contract