Kyle update, 11:47 am: It’s a “hands on deck” situation for 49ers.
I just spoke to a source in San Francisco to get an update on conversations with Trent Williams.
“Nothing yet, but trust me … this is a hands-on effort on deck”– Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 16, 2021
At KNBR, Greg Papa, the 49ers’ radio announcer, said Trent Williams has a $ 80 million four-year deal in San Francisco.
Dad says # 49ers there’s a 4- $ 80M on the table for @ TrentW71 , no other details. You have to go up to keep 71. You have to be creative, other teams (Indy) have more $ space and they need it too.
– John Lund (@JohnLundRadio) March 16, 2021
If that is as high as the 49ers are willing to go, then we may have seen the last Williams in a Niners uniform. When Richard Sherman predicted that the 49ers would win Williams last week, the 49ers’ left star said he felt like he did: “I feel like I can play at a high level after 30, maybe 40.”
I mentioned that Papa is an employee of the team, as he does not publish this statement without approval. If it’s coming from the “49ers’ voice,” then it’s probably coming from the team. Rob Guerrera, of Niners Nation, believes that this is the 49ers “shining the skates for a player who leaves town”. That way, fans can argue, “he had a $ 80 million offer out there! Why didn’t he take it? “
I wouldn’t close the door for Williams to return to the 49ers yet. Williams has not yet agreed with another team and may be giving 49ers a chance to match another offer or close the deal.
If I were in the Niners office, I wouldn’t let a few million stand between Trent Williams and me. If the question is guaranteed money, you know the type of player you will get with Williams. This should be simple: pay the big player.
As Lund mentioned above, 49ers must be creative, as other teams can offer more money. Creative is how you would describe the Niners writing contracts during the Lynch / Shanahan era.