49ers News: Trent Williams Agrees to Restructure Final Year of Contract
May 28, 2020
Offensive tackle Trent Williams has agreed to restructure his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, he told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network in an interview set to be released next week:
Rapoport reported the veteran will still make close to the $12.5 million he was owed for the final year of his contract, but he will get more money upfront than originally planned. This could help the 31-year-old after he made no money last season while holding out with the Washington Redskins.
The 49ers acquired Williams in an April trade, sending a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick to Washington to complete the deal.
The seven-time Pro Bowler gives San Francisco a reliable blocker to replace Joe Staley, who announced his retirement the same day as the trade.
The move also provides Williams a chance at a fresh start after a broken relationship with the Redskins, stemming from a misdiagnosed soft tissue sarcoma on his head. He was also placed on the non-football injury list when he returned from his holdout, costing him $5.1 million worth of salary.
"I'll never be a Redskin again, so I don't have to worry about it," he said in November, per Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic.
Williams is now entering the final year of his contract during his first season with the 49ers, although he's in no rush to sign an extension.
"Obviously there's an incentive for me to play well," he said in April, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "I mean, they give up a third-rounder next year, they kind of invested in the deal as well. I think both parties are interested in something long term. I'm more than OK with kind of just getting my feet wet and just playing it out."
The restructured deal could be a sign of good faith between the player and the team as the two sides begin their partnership in 2020.