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There could be a premier left tackle hitting the open market this offseason and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers should take note.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams are struggling to come to an agreement over a reworked contract and the Niners could release Williams as a result.
Schefter notes that Williams is set to account for a cap hit of $39 million in 2026 and that clearly isn't a price San Francisco is willing to pay.
"With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources," Schefter reported.
"If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players available," Schefter added.
Williams is long in the tooth at 37 years old, but he has shown no signs of slowing down and remains an elite left tackle.
In 2025, Williams posted the 12th-best Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade and the second-best run-blocking grade among offensive tackles.
If he hits the open market, we could see the Steelers, Lions and Chargers all making a play for him.
The Steelers have a major question mark at left tackle with Broderick Jones, who hasn't lived up to expectations over three years in the NFL. Making the situation even murkier, Jones is recovering from a significant neck injury.
In Detroit, the future of left tackle Taylor Decker remains uncertain. The veteran had to battle through injury last season and he is a cut candidate. There is also a possibility Decker chooses to retire.
The Chargers have Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt at the tackle spots, but the former missed all of last season with a torn patellar tendon and rumor has it the Chargers are considering moving Slater inside to center.
Williams would provide a massive upgrade at left tackle for any of those three teams, but there will surely be a ton of competition for his services outside of Pittsburgh, Detroit and Los Angeles.
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