A mountain of injuries prevented the San Francisco 49ers from ever feeling like a true championship contender last season, and yet, the squad still came within one win of clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC and wound up advancing to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The Niners benefited from a soft schedule, but the 2025-26 campaign feels like a precursor to another deep run. The Trent Williams contract extension only amplifies the good vibes surrounding this franchise.
The future Hall of Fame left tackle agreed to a two-year, $50 million deal that will keep him in the Bay Area through the 2027-28 season. Following a period of uncertainty, general manager John Lynch can go into the 2026 NFL Draft knowing that Brock Purdy’s blindside is protected for the immediate future. This move reinforces the message that the Mike Evans addition already sent: the 49ers are all in on Super Bowl 61.
Playing for a Lombardi Trophy in Levi’s Stadium would have been special, but winning the title in the Los Angeles Rams’ SoFi Stadium would be mighty satisfying in its own right. Whether or not this squad has what it takes to achieve such a feat remains to be seen, but the organization clearly believes as much after making this commitment to No. 71.
Though, given his past injury issues and climbing age, it is worth asking if the 49ers overpaid for Trent Williams’ services. We are going to put this player under the microscope and stamp a grade on this reaffirmation of loyalty.
Williams secures one last massive payday
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The three-time First-Team All-Pro and two-time Second-Team All-Pro will turn 38 in July, so there is a decent chance he just secured the final contract extension of his stellar NFL career. He definitely made it count.
Williams cannot hold off Father Time forever, but his body of work and recent contributions have made him one of the best-compensated LTs in the league today. He just played 16 games in a campaign for the first time in 12 years and received a fantastic 91.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The No. 4 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft allowed four sacks and 32 total pressures while committing four penalties in 996 offensive snaps played last season.
Since quarterback Brock Purdy missed eight games with a turf toe injury, Williams’ presence in the 49ers’ trenches was even more valuable than usual. Backup Mac Jones completed 69.6 percent of his passes and threw for over 300 passing yards three different times. The former first-rounder’s resurgence did not happen by accident. The elite 320-pounder helped Jones find success in the pocket.
Besides providing opportunities for the 49ers’ QB room, Williams accentuated Christian McCaffrey’s dual-threat skill set. The 2025 Comeback Player of the Year accumulated more than 2,000 scrimmage yards and scored 17 total touchdowns. He was the indisputable engine of this offense, and Trent Williams made sure to provide the fuel.
Still, there was no guarantee that San Francisco would meet his demands this early into the offseason. The big fella and his agent deserve kudos for inking a huge contract before the NFL Draft.
Trent Williams Grade: A+
The 49ers are trusting Williams to keep them in the title hunt
Brandon Aiyuk is unhappy, Ricky Pearsall is largely unproven, George Kittle is recovering from a torn Achilles and Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are joining a new system. Trent Williams is the biggest source of stability the Niners’ offense has right now.
Yes, he is getting old, and yes, he missed two games or more in his first five years with the franchise, but those facts should not overshadow his overall impact. The 12-time Pro Bowler is still performing at a high level. Moreover, he should keep San Francisco in firm title contention heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
The 49ers are not paying Williams $50 million for the player he has been. They are paying him $50 million for the immense value he can add for the next two seasons. Again, management is all in on Super Bowl 61.
With a healthy Nick Bosa, George Kittle and Fred Warner, along with an upgraded pass-catching group and another potentially productive NFL Draft, the 49ers should be incredibly dangerous in 2026. However, they will be much less intimidating and much easier to exploit without Williams manning the left side. Principal owner Jed York and GM John Lynch correctly recognize the importance of locking him up well before opening kickoff.
Now, both parties can put all their energy into this championship quest.
49ers Grade: A
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