The San Francisco 49ers may be facing a major roster decision in the near future—and it has nothing to do with absent wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler recently highlighted the looming contract situation surrounding All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. According to Spotrac, Williams is scheduled to carry a $38.9 million salary-cap hit in 2026, the second-highest figure on the team behind defensive end Nick Bosa's $42 million cap number.
Fowler questioned whether the 49ers would be comfortable allocating nearly $39 million to an offensive lineman who will be 38 years old at the start of the 2026 NFL season. Still, there is little debate that Williams continues to perform at an elite level.
"Could one of the greatest left tackles of all time enter free agency in March? Trent Williams is healthy this season, and it's showing," Fowler wrote in a feature for ESPN. "The 49ers think Williams, 37, is having one of his best months in recent memory. But his massive 2026 cap hit of $38.8 million is approaching. That's second on the team behind pass rusher Nick Bosa ($42 million), who is 28 and unlikely to go anywhere."
Williams' 91.5 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus this season ranks third among all NFL offensive linemen, trailing only Penei Sewell and Tristan Wirfs. It marks the fifth time in the past six seasons that Williams has posted an offensive grade of at least 91.5. His 92.8 run-blocking grade is his highest since 2021, when he earned a 97.7 mark.
Despite the financial implications, Williams is not scheduled to become a free agent until 2027. Following the 49ers' Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football—while fans chanted "one more year"—Williams made it clear he is not contemplating retirement.
"I'm nowhere near done, so we've got a few more years," Williams said.
If that remains the case, Fowler believes the 49ers will eventually have to choose between extending Williams at a market-level deal, absorbing the sizable cap hit as-is, or considering a release or trade.
Another option that went unmentioned: the 49ers could restructure Williams' contract by adding years and spreading the cap hit over multiple seasons, though that would mean committing significant financial resources to a player nearing 40.
Complicating matters further, San Francisco has yet to identify a clear successor at left tackle, having avoided using high draft capital on the position.
There is also the question of how severely the 49ers' offensive line—and quarterback Brock Purdy's protection—would be impacted without Williams anchoring the blind side.
"Williams is a fixture in San Francisco, so perhaps it can work something out," Fowler added. "But it's not lost on the player that this decision is looming and something most likely must be done. Williams' current contract includes $22.2 million in base salary and a $10 million option bonus due April 1."