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Left tackle Trent Williams went through contentious contract talks with the 49ers two seasons ago, and the team, renowned for its hardball tactics, is asking the future Hall of Famer\u00a0to renegotiate that deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott Strazzante\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
The San Francisco 49ers<\/a> have an extensive history of bruising the feelings of their star players during contract negotiations. Even ever optimistic, perpetually sunny\u00a0George Kittle<\/a>, not one to carry a grudge, carries the scars.<\/p>\n In 2024, four years removed from his first head-to-head tussle with the front office, Kittle broached the topic unprompted during an interview with the Chronicle for a story<\/a> about the fear of being fired that fueled him, even during another 1,000-yard season.<\/p>\n Where did that fear originate? After explaining in detail, Kittle then revealed how his 2020 negotiations also shaped his perspective. He saw \u201cbehind the curtain\u201d and realized his employer could be ruthless: The 49ers had been cutthroat when it came to cash.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime someone is telling you what they think your value is\u00a0\u2014 specifically like when they lowball the hell out of you\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s not a really fun feeling,\u201d Kittle said.<\/p>\n The 49ers\u2019 hard-line negotiating isn\u2019t a new topic. But it\u2019s relevant again with the franchise in a messy public standoff with 37-year-old left tackle Trent Williams<\/a>, with separate recent national reports stating the 49ers could release or trade the 12-time Pro Bowl pick if an agreement isn\u2019t reached, although Wiliams remains under contract for 2026.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The stalled negotiations became public when they were reported on Feb. 24, about 90 minutes before general manager John Lynch<\/a> was scheduled to speak with national reporters at the combine, suggesting it was leaked by an unhappy member of Williams\u2019 camp.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n It\u2019s standard practice for businesses to begin contract talks with a low starting offer. But the 49ers\u2019 penchant for opening with offers that players and agents deem insulting helps explain why kicker Robbie Gould, running back Raheem Mostert and wide receivers Deebo Samuel<\/a> and Brandon Aiyuk<\/a> have publicly requested trades since 2019.<\/p>\n In 2020, Kittle reportedly considered requesting a trade or opting out of that COVID season after his agent, Jack Bechta, received an initial mid-February proposal from the 49ers that he termed the \u201cValentine\u2019s Day Massacre.\u201d<\/p>\n However, after the 49ers\u2019 bitter 2024 negotiations with Aiyuk were their messiest yet, it appeared Lynch and chief negotiator Paraag Marathe had altered their approach last year. After years of all-offseason negotiations that lasted into training camp and sometimes beyond Labor Day, they finalized three massive extensions before Memorial Day, with Kittle (April 29), quarterback Brock Purdy<\/a> (May 16) and linebacker Fred Warner<\/a> (May 19).<\/p>\n Now the acrimony has been dialed back up with Williams. And there are factors that inspire questions about why the talks have become publicly contentious.<\/p>\n The 49ers want to lower Williams\u2019 team-high salary cap number ($38.8 million) by signing him to an extension that would lessen the 2026 burden. And Lynch has acknowledged that Williams\u2019 age is a complicating factor. That is, how much money should the 49ers guarantee Williams in 2027 when he\u2019ll be in his age-39 season?<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that the two sides are working with a deadline, which can ratchet up the intensity on contract talks: Williams is due a $10 million bonus on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/a>
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