Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Trent Williams explains why he didn’t make any contract demands after trade to 49ers
Ian Rapoport spoke with Trent Williams last week, revealing that the San Francisco 49ers had
reworked the final year of their new offensive tackle's deal, which only extends through the 2020 season. If the 49ers want to retain him after that, they will likely need to pay big money to Williams.
The entire conversation with Williams finally aired this week on the
RapSheet + Friends podcast. Williams could have come to his new team and demanded a new contract but opted not to do so. For now, he is excited to be in one of his top desired destinations, and playing for a coach with whom he holds a great deal of respect in Kyle Shanahan.
Williams shared why he didn't make any contract demands after being traded from Washington in exchange for San Francisco's fifth-round pick in this year's draft and a third-rounder next year.
"They did some restructuring to the last year of the deal," Williams shared with Rapoport. "For me, I just want to get back into the swing of things, get my feet wet, get back onto the field. I didn't want to make any lofty demands coming off a year where I didn't play.
"Obviously, I still have all the confidence in the world in myself, and I know the type of work I put in is going to show. It's the NFL, and it's all about what have you done for me lately. Obviously, I didn't play last year, so, realistically, I want to come in and just kind of cement myself with dominant play, not just going off what I have done in the past."
Williams missed all of last season after Washington placed him on the non-football injury list. The tackle also admits that he had every intention of playing last season, despite the narrative that the issues he had with his helmet were an excuse not to play for Washington.
In March, Washington granted Williams and his agent permission to seek a trade, and the deal with San Francisco went through on April 25, during the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Williams is entering his 11th NFL season and is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
You can listen to Rapoport's entire conversation with Williams below. It begins at about the 20:30 mark.
More San Francisco 49ers News
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Staley informed the 49ers of his decision during the week leading to the draft. That led general manager John Lynch to consider the team's options seriously.
One of those options was Washington's disgruntled offensive tackle, Trent Williams. Of course, the 49ers didn't want Washington to know about Staley's intentions.
"[Staley] allowed us to go into the draft with people not knowing [of his plan to retire]," 49ers CEO Jed York said this week during the team's virtual State of the Franchise
Trent Williams' reworked contract prevents the 49ers tackle from being franchised, per report
By David Bonilla
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San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams signed his reworked contract last week. Included was wording that prevents the team from using the franchise tag on him next year. That means that Williams and the 49ers must agree on a new contract extension before he hits free agency in 2021, or agree to part ways.
As part of his reworked contract with the 49ers, OT Trent Williams cannot be franchise tagged after this season, per source. The eventual goal for both sides remains a long-term deal for the 7-time Pro Bowler.— Field Yates (@FieldYates)
49ers considered playing Trent Williams at guard during potential trade last year
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The San Francisco 49ers found themselves in what they perceived as a tough situation last season. The team lost both starting offensive tackles to injuries. Naturally, knowing that the roster was capable of something special, general manager John Lynch started to look into his options.
Disgruntled Washington tackle Trent Williams was one of those options.
"We had made a call about it in the last season when Joe (Staley) and (Mike) McGlinchey were hurt, thinking, wow, this could be an option," Lynch told Greg Papa during the 49ers' virtual State of the Franchise event this week. "When those guys come back, maybe we play him at guard."
The trade, obviously, didn't happen during the season. It did happen, however, during the third day of this year's
