Trent Williams ends contract dispute with Niners on eve of NFL opener

All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams has ended his contract holdout and reported to the San Francisco 49ers to finalize a new deal.
Williams’ agency, Elite Loyalty Sports, posted on social media on Tuesday that Williams was set to rejoin the team six days before the season opener against the New York Jets.
Williams had been back home in Texas for all of training camp while seeking a new deal, accumulating more than $5m in mandatory fines for missing camp and three pre-season games.
But he is now set to get a new contract, with the 49ers resolving both of their major contract disputes before the season opener. San Francisco signed star receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year, $120m extension last week, ending his contract “hold in.”
The moves mean the Niners will have nearly every significant player from last season’s standout offense back to start the 2024 season. The only players missing who played at least 200 snaps on offense last season are fill-in guard Jon Feliciano, backup tight end Charlie Woerner and No 4 receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.
Getting Williams back may be the most important move of the offseason. On a star-studded roster, the left tackle is the most irreplaceable piece.
The 36-year-old Williams was owed $20m this season under the six-year, $138m deal he signed in 2021 but will now sign a new deal to replace the final three years on his current contract.
Williams’ average annual value of just over $23m has been surpassed by five offensive linemen since he became the richest player at the position when he signed the deal, with Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all getting deals this offseason worth at least $26m a year.
Williams has been widely considered the top offensive linemen in the game in recent years. He has been the All-Pro left tackle the past three seasons and has been a major reason for San Francisco’s offensive success.
The Niners open the season on Monday night against the Jets in San Francisco.