NFL rumors: 49ers willing to pay Trent Williams $20 million per season
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Report: 49ers willing to give Williams $20 million per year originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Trent Williams is the 49ers' top priority entering free agency, but it is going to cost San Francisco a pretty penny to keep the 32-year-old left tackle in the Bay.
Williams, graded as the top offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus last season, is coming off a flawless campaign that saw him reestablish himself as one of the best blindside protectors in the NFL. While the 49ers are intent on bringing Williams back, the soon-to-be 33-year-old has said he will test the free-agent market to gauge his true value and it's likely that he will have a pandemic-proof market with many expecting Williams to get upward of $20 million per season.
That's a price tag that the 49ers are willing to pay, The MMQB's Albert Breer noted in a piece Monday/
"But I don’t think the Niners will get it done without paying more than they probably figured they’d have to when they traded for him during last year’s draft, and, accordingly, I’ve heard they’re willing to go to $20 million per year to keep him,' Breer writes.
While the 49ers should be seen as the favorite to keep Williams, there will be a hefty market of contenders vying for his services.
Expect the Minnesota Vikings, who are doing some cap gymnastics to free up space to be involved. The Vikings were in the running to acquire Williams last offseason in a trade with Washington before the 49ers sealed the deal.
The Indianapolis Colts are in need of a starting left tackle after Anthony Castonzo's retirement and are projected to have a little over $45 million in cap space to play with. The Kansas City Chiefs, likewise, are in need of a new left tackle after parting ways with both Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently restructured his contract to give Kansas City more financial wiggle room. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers terrorized Mahomes all day in Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs have to make both tackle positions a priority.
While many players are expecting a tepid free-agent market, Williams shouldn't be one of them.
After sitting out for the entire 2019 season, Williams allowed only four sacks and allowed pressure on just 3.6 percent of dropbacks.
He's an elite left tackle and many teams will be willing to open their checkbook to acquire his services. Having Williams on the left side of the offensive line in 2021 is crucial to what coach Kyle Shanahan hopes is an offensive resurgence with a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo under center.
The 49ers need Williams back and, by all accounts, he would like to return. The only question is: How much are the 49ers willing to pay to make sure Williams doesn't leave the Bay.
