Over the weekend, Bleacher Report shared that ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler suggested the San Francisco 49ers' All-Pro offensive lineman, Trent Williams, might eventually seek a new deal.
"Fowler reported Saturday on SportsCenter that 'there are whispers around some in the industry that he might want a new deal eventually,'" Bleacher Report stated.
Fowler joined Bay Area radio station KNBR to clarify the report, suggesting that none of these "whispers" came from inside the organization.
"It's something that multiple people have brought up to me as a possibility," Fowler said on the "Murph and Markus" show. "Like, hey, there are whispers that he would like a new deal. It wasn't more like a splash report or anything. I heard it enough to mention it, I'll say that.
"But, it's not anything I've confirmed as hard and fast. But there are certainly whispers among people in the industry who think that he wants a new deal or will want a new deal, and it's in part because he's not the highest-paid player at his position anymore. And he's clearly still the best, even though he's 35."
Fowler points out that Williams is due a base salary of $20.05 million in 2024 and $22.5 million in 2025, adding, "It's just low enough, compared to where the market's going, where he could need an adjustment. I just see it as something that will come to a head. I don't know what it means or how it will shake out, but they're going to probably have to take care of him one more time."
While Williams will turn 36 next month, Fowler is correct that he remains one of the best offensive linemen in the game. It's unclear how much longer the tackle plans to continue playing. However, in February, he made it clear that retirement isn't in his immediate plans.
"I haven't thought about the end, so I know I'm definitely in for the next couple of years," Williams said.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Fowler below.