With the NFL season wrapping up as they head into championship weekend in the playoffs, some teams are already focusing on who will be retained or signed as potential free agents.
Some media outlets have projected a loss in cap space due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the 2020 NFL season the cap increased to $198.2 million, but Over The Cap has the 2021 salary cap around $176 million. That would be a number lower than the 2018 season. Teams might have to get creative with their spending.
One player who will be getting a new contract is former Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle, Trent Williams. After taking the 2019 NFL season off, Williams returned to the NFL after being traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He didn’t appear to miss a beat with his new team.
Recently Pro Football Focus released their top-rated pending free agents. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was listed at the top with Williams coming in at No. 5.
After not playing a snap in 2019, Williams is back in his rightful place as one of the league’s best offensive tackles. He can play in any scheme, moving defenders at the point of attack or cutting them off on the backside of zone plays, while linebackers must keep their head on a swivel because he attacks the second level with a vengeance.
Williams has basically never had a bad season in the NFL, with his rookie year being by far the lowest overall PFF grade he has posted (63.4). He hit at least a 75.6 mark in every other season and 2020 is now the third time he’s led all offensive tackles in PFF grade (91.9). He has shown elite-level play in multiple schemes and now multiple cities, and he looks capable of being the next great left tackle to play well into their 30s at a high level.
Williams will be 33 when the 2021 NFL season kicks off but it appears that he still has plenty left in the tank for a team that needs an offensive tackle. If the 49ers pass on Williams, there should be plenty of suiters for the 2020 Pro-Bowl tackle.