The San Francisco 49ers have broken the bank in order to retain the top free agent available.
Trent Williams has agreed to terms on a six-year, $138.06 million deal to stay with the 49ers, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday morning. The contract includes $55.1 million in fully guaranteed money and a $30.1 million signing bonus, per Williams' agent.
The deal makes Williams the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
Williams' six-year contract is practically two deals, according to Pelissero. Williams is under contract for three years to start at $60.75 million with $45.1 million guaranteed at signing. The left tackle can earn another $10 million fully guaranteed if the club exercises a $77.31 million team option to pick up the final three years of his deal by April 1, 2023. If exercised, Williams' pay in '23 ($19.4 million) becomes mostly guaranteed.
Williams has always maintained his preference to staying in San Francisco. The 32-year-old was acquired by the 49ers last offseason in a trade the perennial Pro Bowl left tackle sought out, which ultimately ended a nine-year tenure in Washington that turned sour and culminated in a year-long holdout.
Despite missing the entire 2019 season, Williams seamlessly returned to form in 2020 and proved a reliable blindside blocker on the 49ers offensive line in the wake of Joe Staley's retirement. Williams was elected to his eighth Pro Bowl in his first season with the 49ers and his overall grade of 91.9 from Pro Football Focus ranked first at his position in 2020.
His road to a massive contract had plenty of bumps along the way and required a lot of patience, but Williams can now set any worries aside as he settles into his home in San Francisco and aims to help get the 49ers back into contention for years to come.
