49ers Decline $10M Option Bonus for Veteran LT Trent Williams

The move pushes the 37-year-old's 2026 salary cap number to nearly $47 million.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:49am by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers have decided not to exercise a $10 million option bonus for veteran left tackle Trent Williams, leaving no guaranteed money on his current contract. This move increases Williams' 2026 salary cap number to nearly $47 million as the team looks to rework the 12-time Pro Bowler's deal ahead of next month's NFL draft.

Why it matters

Trent Williams is a cornerstone of the 49ers' offensive line, but at 37 years old, the team must carefully manage his contract to balance his value as a player with the salary cap implications. This decision gives the 49ers more flexibility to potentially restructure Williams' deal and keep him in San Francisco long-term.

The details

By declining the $10 million option bonus, the 49ers have pushed Williams' 2026 salary cap number to nearly $47 million, up from $38.84 million previously. The team is still hoping to rework the veteran left tackle's contract ahead of the upcoming draft, according to the report.

  • The 49ers made this decision on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • Williams' current contract was set to expire following the 2026 season.

The players

Trent Williams

A 37-year-old veteran left tackle who has been selected to 12 Pro Bowls over his 16-year NFL career, the last three of which have been with the San Francisco 49ers.

John Lynch

The general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, who expressed optimism about the team's ability to work out a new contract with Williams.

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What they’re saying

“Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner, and it's up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player, how great of a player he's been. He's going to be 38 years old and so there's some things that go into that. But I think we're all on the same page and feel very positive about where that's going.”

— John Lynch, General Manager, San Francisco 49ers

What’s next

The 49ers will look to rework Trent Williams' contract ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in order to keep the veteran left tackle in San Francisco long-term.

The takeaway

This decision by the 49ers highlights the careful contract management required for aging star players like Trent Williams. While the team values his contributions, they must balance his on-field impact with the salary cap implications of his deal. A successful renegotiation could allow the 49ers to retain Williams while providing more flexibility to build a competitive roster around him.