The San Francisco 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams are locked in a contract standoff that shows no signs of resolution — and the Chicago Bears should be paying close attention to every second of it.
Williams, a 12-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, is widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive tackles of his generation, and he’s entering the final year of the three-year, $82.66 million extension he signed in September of 2024. His salary cap hit for 2026 is around $47 million after the 49ers declined his $10 million option bonus on March 20. None of his remaining salary is guaranteed.
As it stands, the two sides, according to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, remain far apart.
“Williams may not be motivated to work within any structure the team has in mind, and with his contract set to void after 2026 there is no simple restructure the team can do without a new template that the player would have to be fully on board with,” La Canfora wrote on march 21, adding: “To imply that Williams will absolutely be a 49er to end his career would be misleading at this point, according to league sources.”
49ers & Trent Williams Remain Far Apart, According to La Canfora’s Sources
GettyThe Chicago Bears should absolutely be monitoring the situation between Trent Williams and the 49ers, as they would be a perfect trade partner.
Since joining the 49ers in 2020, Williams has been named to five Pro Bowls, earned three first-team All-Pro selections and one second-team nod. In 2025, at age 37, he earned second-team All-Pro honors and posted a 91.5 overall PFF grade that ranked third among all offensive linemen.
But the Niners are walking a dangerous line after declining Williams’ $10 million option.
“They aren’t anywhere close to a deal yet,” a source familiar with the situation told La Canfora.
“Williams doesn’t have much motivation to play for anything less than the $33M in cash he is set to earn in 2026, and the 49ers clearly aren’t comfortable with that, hence the renegotiation talks,” La Canfora added, also noting:
“Williams is acutely aware there is a robust market for his services as a free agent or through trade.”
What Might a Trade for Williams Look Like?
A trade would not come cheaply. Williams carries $33 million in cash compensation for 2026, and any acquiring team would likely need to negotiate a reworked deal. But recent tackles traded at premium prices — Cam Robinson and Laremy Tunsil among them — have typically returned no more than a second-round pick. The Bears hold the No. 25 overall selection and could package a Day 2 pick to get a deal done — but that’s if the Niners are willing to move on.
There are also some legit injury concerns surrounding Williams, who turns 38 in July. His 2024 season was cut short after 10 games due to a lingering ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve, although he missed just one game in 2025.
Still, Williams remains one of the best LTs in the game, even at his age, and there’s no doubt he’d be a huge get for the Bears if they could pull it off. Ozzy Trapilo, the second-round pick who took over the starting left tackle job late in 2025, suffered a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs and is expected to miss most of the 2026 campaign.
The Bears re-signed Braxton Jones on a one-year deal and added former first-round pick Jedrick Wills on a short-term contract, but neither is half the player Williams is.
Playing alongside All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, Williams would give the Bears arguably the best left side in football and allow Thuney to focus more on interior responsibilities. And when Trapilo returns, Williams could serve as a mentor to the young OL.
The 49ers surely want to retain him, but if the two sides remain at loggerheads, the Bears should be calling the Bay Area repeatedly.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post New Trent Williams Report Is Great News for Chicago Bears appeared first on Heavy Sports.