Trent Williams cannot be franchise tagged by 49ers after season

The San Francisco 49ers have no plans to sign Trent Williams to a contract extension prior to the start of the season, but they are not going to prevent the All-Pro offensive lineman from becoming a free agent when the year ends.

After the Niners acquired Williams in a trade with the Washington Redskins, they agreed to a restructured contract with the 31-year-old that allowed him to collect some of his $12.5 million salary for 2020 up front. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, San Francisco also gave Williams assurances that he will not be franchise tagged heading into 2021.

As part of his reworked contract with the 49ers, OT Trent Williams cannot be franchise tagged after this season, per source. The eventual goal for both sides remains a long-term deal for the 7-time Pro Bowler.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 23, 2020

The 49ers want to eventually sign Williams to a long-term extension, so giving him a guarantee of no franchise tag should be a good way for the two sides to maintain a strong relationship.

Williams was supposedly asking for a massive extension from the Redskins at one point, but that was one of many tactics he employed to force a trade. He should be a great fit in San Francisco’s run-first offense as long as he’s healthy. We know at least one NFC West coach is not pleased about having to face him.