A VERY BIG DEAL
Niners retain Williams by signing Pro Bowl left tackle to historic $138.06M contract
Trent Williams will be paid more by the 49ers than any offensive linemen in NFL history. Allow fullback Kyle Juszczyk to explain why:
“This guy is actually moving defensive linemen into the laps of linebackers, back into the secondary, and that just doesn’t really happen in the NFL,” Juszczyk told reporters Wednesday.
The 49ers will see that for many seasons to come, signing Williams to a colossal contract (six years, $138.06 million) he announced on Instagram after midnight Wednesday. He was the NFL’s biggest-ticket player in free agency until the 49ers retained their Pro Bowl left tackle with $55 million guaranteed, after a couple of tense days with him on the market.
Joining him on that offensive line is center Alex Mack, a Cal product who previously played in Kyle Shanahan’s system with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. Mack will earn $5.5 million, the NFL Network announced.
The 49ers have yet to confirm either deal, and neither lineman has spoken to the media yet. In other key moves, D.J. Jones is re-signing on
a one-year deal while the Raiders signed away fellow defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, the 49ers’ No. 3 overall draft pick in 2017 out of Stanford.
Williams, 32, is tailormade for the 49ers, not only with his athletic skill set but his power that can keep defenders off Jimmy Garoppolo -- and those quarterbacks who may succeed him in the coming years if 2021 doesn’t go well.
Williams figured to charge into free agency just like last season’s viral image from his 49ers debut. Remember that, when he raced 5 yards downfield and gleefully flattened an Arizona Cardinals linebacker? Instead, Williams took a rather stationary, pocket-protecting stance. There were reports that the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts came calling.
Williams picked his best fit: Shanahan’s system, which initiated him into
the NFL in 2010 as the No. 4 overall pick by Washington. His signing bonus in this deal totals $30,100,000.
“Trent’s a game-changer. Someone teams have to scheme around and he’s a guy we can count on, knowing he’ll get his job done,” Juszczyk said. “You can’t pay too much for a guy like that. He’s a guy that puts you over the top and in that championship caliber.”
The 49ers’ focus now reverts to the quarterback position, which, for now, remains Garoppolo’s job, if healthy. Williams and other blockers must help Garoppolo buck the injury trend that ruined his and the 49ers’ 2018 and 2020 seasons.
Splurging on Williams is a necessary largesse. The 49ers are only 13 1/2 months removed from the Super Bowl. They had to lock up their Pro Bowl left tackle. They couldn’t gamble with an in-house replacement or incoming rookie, not with their championship window threatening to slam shut like it did quickly after their 2012 team’s run to a Super Bowl appearance.
Mack, 35, is a six-time Pro Bowler who brings familiarity and experience. The 49ers went through six centers last season en route to a 6-10 record, with openingday guard Daniel Brunskill sliding over to start at center for the final eight games. Weston Richburg is expected to retire and Ben Garland is a free agent.
The 49ers’ preceding moves were prudent: resigning Juszczyk and cornerback Jason Verrett at reasonable costs, while also agreeing with former Rams edge rusher Samson Ebukam at a steeper discount from the NFL’s proven sack artists.
Williams and Juszczyk were the 49ers’ top offensive priorities because of how valuable that tandem is to Shanahan’s system. They embody the scheme fit with athleticism, versatility, leadership and heady play. Mack, too.
Williams arrived 11 months ago, traded from Washington for a thirdround draft pick to offset Joe Staley’s retirement. He hadn’t played football in more than a year, sitting out
the 2019 season because of a cancerous growth on his scalp and a feud with the front office.
He used 2020 for an inspiring comeback and regained Pro Bowl acclaim while starting all but two games. He missed the season finale with an elbow issue, as well as a November loss to the Green Bay Packers while on the COVID-19 reserve list as a high-risk contact.
His best game, at least in terms of resiliency, surprised even himself as he overcame his own bout with COVID-19 and helped the 49ers beat the host Los Angeles Rams.
His debut season saw him protect the blind side of three different 49ers quarterbacks. That can’t happen again, if all goes right with the 49ers’ plans.
Williams was the league’s top-rated tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus. A clause in his contract prevented him from drawing the franchise tag, which was applied to two other tackles in the league — Taylor Moton (Carolina Panthers) and Cam Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars).
As Williams headed toward free agency, the toppaid left tackles were David Bakhtiari (Green Bay Packers; $23 million annually) and Laremy Tunsil (Houston Texans; $22 million annually).
Now Williams sits atop that list, averaging $23,010,000, to which Bakhtiari tweeted Wednesday morning to Williams and noted how “petty” he was to slip past him. “Congrats on the deal and history Silverback,” Bakhtiari said in reference to Williams’ nickname. “Very deserving.”
Williams’ return and Mack’s addition seemingly round out the 49ers’ projected starting lineup on offense.
Adding more wide receivers behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, another tight end to complement George Kittle or more linemen to fortify that front are all conceivable steps.
The 49ers have not unhitched themselves from Garoppolo and aren’t expected to do so, barring a blockbuster trade for an upgrade such as Houston’s
Deshaun Watson. Check back on that in 2022. Williams will be there to block for whoever takes the snap, presumably from Mack.
Defensively, the starting units are either set or nearly so, with Jones re-signing to play inside next to Javon Kinlaw on base run downs and Samson Ebukam arriving to play the edge in pass downs.
There’s certainly more room on the roster for upgrades at backup quarterback and slot receiver, plus depth on the defensive line and at cornerback. Having entered free agency with nearly $30 million in salary cap room, that’s likely been shaved in half, with enough remaining for a couple signings plus next month’s draft class.
• The 49ers re-signed cornerback Briean BoddyCalhoun and tight end Daniel Helm to one-year deals.
• Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was released, a day after he reverted to the 49ers’ roster because of a 2020 trade to the Philadelphia Eagles that cost the 49ers a seventh-round pick in next month’s draft.