Most of the attention in San Francisco has surrounded hold-in Brandon Aiyuk's contract situation. Less has been made of the best left tackle in the NFL, Trent Williams, skipping training camp.
Williams remains away from the team, accruing daily fines, but coach Kyle Shanahan suggested this one might be closer during an interview on KNBR on Wednesday.
"I've had some contact with him. It's been good talking to him," Shanahan said Wednesday, . "We're negotiating hard. Hopefully it's getting close."
Williams has accrued more than $3 million in fines during his training camp holdout. He'd lose an additional $1.1 million if he skips Friday's third and final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The presumption is these unwaivable fines will be built into the contract resolution.
Williams is a vital part of the Niners' potent offense. A stonewall on the blind side, he's also one of the most athletic linemen in the NFL, able to get out on the move like few at the position. His talent opens up Shanahan's options when building plays.
The 36-year-old has three seasons left on his current contract, which averages $23.01 million per year. His 2024 base salary sits at $20.05 million. Tristan Wirfs became the top-paid offensive tackle in the NFL this offseason with an annual salary of $28.125 million. Penei Sewell ($28 million per year) and Christian Darrisaw ($26 million per) also inked deals leapfrogging Williams.
Waves of speculation and reports regarding Aiyuk's future have stood in stark contrast with the few-and-far-between updates on Williams' contract situation. That dynamic stems partly from the organization's confidence that a resolution will come to get Williams on the field by Week 1. With that date approaching, Shanahan's optimism is a welcome update.
