49ers All-Pro Trent Williams adds to San Francisco's contract headaches with latest decision

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for a trip back to the Super Bowl in 2024-2025, with eyes set on bringing home the hardware this time.

Typically, teams need their best players to complete such a task, and that development period starts during training camp.

Well, after WR Brandon Aiyuk decided to stage a hold-in amidst his impasse, star LT Trent Williams took it a step further:

Trent Williams holding out of training camp in search for new contract

Another headache for the 49ers, there have been rumblings that Trent Williams wasn't satisfied with his contract after an offseason that saw Penei Sewell, and most recently, Christian Darrisaw strike deals that pay them over $28m a year.

Williams, who is due to make just shy of $21m this year and around $23m next year, feels slighted given the recency of the new contracts, and it's hard to argue against him.

An 11x Pro Bowler who has earned first-team All-Pro accolades for three seasons in a row, it's hard to say that there's a better offensive lineman in the league.

From the 49ers' standpoint, they would likely prefer that their 36-year-old tackle play out the remainder of his deal, and at the agreed-upon salary before finding their next franchise LT.

That's especially true in light of the Brandon Aiyuk situation and with Brock Purdy's inevitable payday on the horizon.

But what's different in the Aiyuk and Williams situation, is the steps each has taken. Aiyuk has been boisterous in his disapproval of the 49ers and how they handled his contract situation, even going as far as to request a trade .

But for Williams, while his displeasure is known inside the organization, no public discourse has shown itself until today.

And unlike Aiyuk, who has still been present in meetings and at practice though not participating, Williams is away entirely, meaning he can accrue fines, something that pressures the negotiations even more.

What has been a dramatic season in San Francisco has reached a new level. No one wants their best player to be unhappy with their contract, and certainly not when you already have one public set of negotiations going on, and a big QB deal in the back of your mind.

So while Hard Knocks Offseason has many believing they can be GMs in the NFL, I don't think anyone envies John Lynch's position right now.