If Trent Williams is trying to prove something, he's done it. Not only does the San Francisco 49ers' veteran tackle own a league-leading 99.0 overall Pro Football Focus grade, but he is also on pace to earn the highest grade in the history of the analytics site.
In March, after a flirtation with other teams, including a very interested Kansas City Chiefs organization, Williams opted to return to the 49ers on a six-year, $138.06 million deal.
That is a big contract to live up to, but Williams has done so. He's having what most consider to be his best NFL season yet. In a league where mega-deals don't often see sufficient returns, the eight-time Pro Bowl tackle is working hard to prove to his team that they made the right decision.
"To me, that was the only thing that I wanted to do," Williams recently told NBC Sports Bay Area via the 49ers Talk podcast. "I've got so much respect for this organization, for the York family, for [head coach Kyle] Shanahan, and Hall of Famer [and general manager] John Lynch. I definitely wanted them to be right."
The 49ers took a risk paying that much money to a player who they hoped had Pro Bowl-worthy seasons left in front of him. The team believed in Williams, though. And for the offensive lineman, it meant remaining with family.
"Kyle, he's like family to me," Williams shared in March after re-signing with San Francisco. "His family is like family to me. ... Kyle didn't have to sell anything to me. I already knew what this place has to offer. I knew what he has to offer. And I knew what the front office had to offer."
Still, it was a lot of money to invest in one position. Williams is 33 years old and understands that teams are always hesitant to spend big on older players. That's why proving the 49ers right has been a priority this season.
"I know that I was getting long in the tooth, and most people probably wouldn't invest that much money into a player that's getting up there in age," Williams told NBC Sports Bay Area. "So, the fact that they did it, it just made me know that they believe in me. So, in return, I've got to prove them right.
"I've got to show them it's more than just getting a check. It's about going out and proving that you deserve it. And that's what I'm [doing]. I'm just trying to prove my worth."
