San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams (71) while playing Los Angeles Rams during NFL game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
PHOENIX — Over the years, during the San Francisco 49ers’ myriad contract negotiations with their many star players, general manager John Lynch has typically been circumspect when discussing those high-stakes discussions with reporters.
Given that, it was notable Sunday when Lynch said this: An agreement with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams could be imminent.
“I would say in the last week, it’s kind of intensified,” Lynch said at the NFL owners’ meetings. “And feel like we’re on the precipice of something good happening.”
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Lynch’s characterization qualified as a surprise. Before his revelation, there were multiple national reports over the past month stating the 49ers could trade or release Williams if they couldn’t agree to terms. The fact that private talks became public indicated the negotiations had gotten messy and Williams could replicate his extended 2024 holdout, if the 49ers didn’t decide to sever ties.
Lynch, however, dismissed the idea that talks with Williams and his agent, Vincent Taylor, had been contentious.
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“This one’s never got ugly,” Lynch said. “It’s been very straightforward, direct, and I just think there’s a lot of nuance to that situation. He’s one of the great players, I think, to ever play the game. But there’s a reality with his age. And so it’s like — how do you thread that needle? And how do you find a deal where everyone’s taken care of and happy? And so, I think, there’s some special nuance to it that we’ve tried to work through. And both sides have been good with that.”
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The situation: Williams, who carries a team-high $46.34 million salary cap charge in 2026 in the final year of his contract, will turn 38 in July. The 49ers want to lower his cap charge by signing him to an extension that will keep him under contract through at least the 2027 season, which has inspired the question: How much to pay a still-elite player who may finally start showing his age in his age-39 season?
Despite the reports of a possible trade or release, a parting of the ways appeared unlikely. The 49ers would assume a whopping $34.15 million dead cap charge if they traded or released Williams. And they don’t have an adequate replacement for the 12-time Pro Bowl pick on the roster. Their top backup tackle is Vederian Lowe, 26, who was signed earlier this month after he made four fill-in starts as a backup with the Patriots last year.
Lynch did couch his optimism regarding Williams on Sunday by saying he previously had positive contract talks fall apart.
“These things (have) felt like (this) before,” Lynch said. “But I do feel like we’re in good communication and hopeful.”
Injury updates: Lynch said the 49ers were “hopeful” All-Pro tight end George Kittle could play in the regular-season opener after he suffered a torn Achilles on Jan. 11.
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In addition, he said he expects All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa to be ready to practice at the start of training camp after he suffered a torn ACL in September. Pass rusher Mykel Williams, the No. 11 pick in last year’s draft, could be ramped up slowly during the summer after he tore his ACL in November.
“His (recovery) could go into the season, but he’s doing really well,” Lynch said.
Not done: Lynch said the team’s three current candidates to start at left guard — Robert Jones, Connor Colby and Brett Toth — could eventually be bypassed on the depth chart by a rookie.
“I don’t think we’re done there yet,” Lynch said. “You know, we still have a draft.”
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Jones, 27, is likely the top candidate to start before the draft after signing a one-year deal last week. He’s made 30 career starts, including 17 in 2024 with the Dolphins, but he missed last season with a broken bone in his neck. Jones spent three seasons (2022-24) with then-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, a former 49ers offensive coordinator.
“He’s very familiar with the things that we do, the way we play, and we’ve liked him,” Lynch said.