The San Francisco 49ers could reportedly part ways with Trent Williams this offseason.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 49ers may release the star offensive tackle if they don't agree to a restructured contract. Williams will carry a $39 million cap hit for the 2026 season.
The two sides are "struggling to find a contractual solution," which could lead to the 49ers moving on from the 12-time Pro Bowler.
Could 49ers release Trent Williams?
Williams has spent the last six seasons in San Francisco, who have made three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl during that tenure. He earned three straight first-team All-Pro nods from 2021 to 2023 and settled for a second-team selection last season.
Even at age 37, Williams would instantly become one of the top free agents available if the 49ers release him. Pro Football Focus graded him as the third-best tackle in 2025.
Williams was one of few 49ers stars to stay healthy last season, but they still went 12-5 before defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round. The star tackle confirmed after their elimination that he planned to return for a 16th season.
"I'm just proud of this team, Williams said in January, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan." We have a lot of young guys who contributed a lot to our success and they have really, really bright futures. I'm really proud of this team. It didn't go the way we wanted it to, but the future is really bright."
Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti noted that the 49ers have until April 1 to decide on a $10 million option. Yet they would save only $4.7 million of his lofty cap number if they released Williams outright.
"One alternative solution could include Williams agreeing to lower his $22M base salary down to a minimum $1.3M," Ginnitti suggested. "This would allow the Niners to designate him a Post 6/1 release this March, keeping a $17.9M cap hit on the books into June, then taking on dead cap hits of $13.3M for 2026, $20.8M for 2027."
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