The 49ers opted for a delay of game Friday as it pertains to perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams.
Williams was due a $10 million option bonus, which the 49ers declined to pick up, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Since the 49ers declined, the money is converted to scheduled salary and Williams’ salary cap number balloons to more than $46 million — twice as much as quarterback Brock Purdy, the second-highest player on the list at over $23 million.
Salaries are paid over 18 weeks of the regular season, so the 49ers are in no danger of having to pay out the money immediately. The $46 million figure is one they can temporarily accommodate due to their cap space. According to the ESPN report, the 49ers still plan to get Williams, 38, back in the fold before the NFL Draft late next month.
Given that the 49ers have had an active offseason including the free agent signings of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Dre Greenlaw, Nate Hobbs, and a trade for Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas, there’s no indication they are planning on parting ways with a player for whom they do not have an adequate replacement.
Here’s how general manager John Lynch described the Williams situation at the NFL scouting combine:
“Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner, and it’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player, how great of a player he’s been. He’s going to be 38 years old and so there’s some things that go into that. But I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positive about where that’s going.”