Contract details for Trent Williams’ monster six-year, $138 million deal emerged Thursday morning via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The structure of the contract reveals the exorbitant $138 million price tag doesn’t match up with what San Francisco will actually pay over the life of the deal.
As Breer laid out, Williams will earn $30.1 million up front with his signing bonus. He’ll ultimately earn $40.5 million over the first two years, $60.75 million in the first three, and $81.65 million through four.
With that structure, the 49ers are actually shelling out about $20 million annually through the first four years, which is closer to the range many expected the deal to land. Plus, his salary cap hit this year will be a very reasonable $8,226,250 according to Over the Cap.
While the deal never necessarily becomes cheap, its becomes far more manageable after that fourth year. San Francisco can part ways with their left tackle for just $6.02 million in dead cap in 2025, with $23.35 million in savings.
The sticker shock of Williams’ contract made it seem like the 49ers were going to handicap themselves financially for the foreseeable future. However, with the salary cap expected to get a massive hike in the coming years, Williams’ deal will continue to look relatively team friendly throughout his tenure in San Francisco, especially if he keeps playing like one of the best blind side protectors in the NFL.