Trent Williams Re-Signs with 49ers Despite Rumors Connected to Chiefs

Despite numerous rumors the Kansas City Chiefs could potentially land free agent left tackle Trent Williams, the eight-time Pro Bowler has elected to re-sign with the San Francisco 49ers.

Dianna Russini of ESPN first broke the news at 3:07 a.m. CST.

Trent Williams is staying with San Francisco per sources
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 17, 2021

It comes with no surprise the 49ers made Williams the richest lineman in NFL history. His six-year, $138 million contract sets a new benchmark for premier left tackles.

Williams is fully guaranteed $55.1 million while $30.1 million was collected as his signing bonus, according to Russini. With the new deal, Williams will make approximately $23 million per year.

Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers deal is for 6 years, $138 million.
He is the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
Of the $55,100,000 guaranteed
$30,100,000 million is a signing bonus.
The deal was done by
@elsportsllc@loyalty24_7
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 17, 2021

The monumental salary is all justified by Williams's exceptional play over the last decade. Arrowhead Report's Conner Christopherson analyzed Williams's market and how he has performed through the first 10 years of his career during his Seven Days of Free Agency series.

Trent Williams continues to play like a future Hall-of-Famer and was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 rated tackle for the 2020 NFL season. The assumption is that Williams will be tagged or he will re-sign with the 49ers, but if Williams hits free agency, the bidding war will be fierce.

The amount of guaranteed money here seems absurd for a tackle who will be 33 when the new season starts, but I bet the Chiefs were players pretty close to the two years/$55M guaranteed window. Everything beyond that is sort of an illusion, I imagine.https://t.co/ALMjLfNZOV
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) March 17, 2021

In the end, it appears the Chiefs made a significant effort to add Williams, but after signing guard Joe Thuney, the 49ers maintained the inside track, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Trent Williams also discussed deals with the Chiefs and the Bears. The Chiefs wound up with signing Joe Thuney, the Bears signed Andy Dalton and Germain Ifedi, ensuring that the 49ers would make Williams the highest-paid offensive lineman in history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021

Despite the top free-agent left tackle no longer being on the market, Kansas City still has options to fill their offensive line vacancies. When it comes to tackles, veterans Alejandro Villanueva and Russell Okung are two solid starters still available for the Chiefs to sign.

The Chiefs, I'm told, were in it to the end with 49ers LT Trent Williams, even after agreeing to a monster, 5-year, $80 million deal with G Joe Thuney. And they have ex-Bears Pro Bowler Kyle Long in for a visit today.

Andy Reid and Brett Veach AGGRESSIVELY addressing the line.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 17, 2021

Here's what Christopherson had to say about the two of the top remaining free-agent tackles.

Russell Okung only played around 40% of the snaps for the Panthers last year due to a nagging calf injury in the second half of the season, but when he played, he continued to perform up to the standard he has established over the course of his career.

Alejandro Villanueva could be forced to move on from the team he started his career with due to the Steelers being in a salary cap crunch. While Villanueva’s play did not match the best seasons over his career, he was still a quality starter and was able to protect an aging Big Ben in Pittsburgh.

Kansas City could still reach a deal with swing tackle Mike Remmers for next season as well, but as of early Wednesday morning, the Chiefs' depth chart at tackle is extremely thin with journeyman Martinas Rankin and redshirt rookie Lucas Niang first in line at each side.

Now that we know for a fact that the #Chiefs were players until the end on Trent Williams, I think it confirms they don't want to wait until the draft (and then 30 picks) to find their Week 1 starting LT. I still don't see them starting two tackles with zero NFL snaps. https://t.co/qOH8mfe87f
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) March 17, 2021