The Brandon Aiyuk trade discourse dominated the offseason, but Trent Williams might be the superstar who doesn’t suit up for the San Francisco 49ers. Despite his advanced age, the three-time First-Team All-Pro remains one of the league’s elite tackles, as he finished the 2023 season with an elite 92.6 PFF grade while guiding the 49ers to yet another Super Bowl appearance.
The left tackle has skipped practices throughout the offseason as he looks for a revised contract. Williams is currently scheduled to make $20.05 million in 2024, but none of it is guaranteed. Now entering his age-36 season, the 11-time Pro Bowler wants more financial security, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says he won’t return to the team without a revised deal.
Seeing as they’re in the midst of their Super Bowl window, San Francisco will probably cave in and hand out more guaranteed money. However, if they stand firm, several teams should be desperate to trade for Trent Williams. While he’d be an upgrade for just about any roster, the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers make the most sense as potential destinations.
Saints, Panthers Could Trade For Trent Williams If Holdout Continues
The New Orleans Saints have one of the worst offensive lines in the league, which is saying something. While teams like the New England Patriots are embracing a rebuild and accepting poor offensive line play, the Saints are trying to compete for a playoff spot. The front office keeps kicking the can down the line, and the strategy must yield results if Dennis Allen wants to keep his job. The offensive line is the biggest flaw on the Saints roster, and a Trent Williams trade could fix the entire unit.
Derek Carr is one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks against pressure, so protecting him should be the Saints’ top priority. First-round pick Taliese Fuaga has potential, but right tackle Trevor Penning is an active liability. A Trent Williams trade would immediately solidify the tackle position and give Carr a fighting chance in 2024. While New Orleans will have to get creative to make the money work, nobody is better at finding ways to circumvent the salary cap. If the Saints still can’t make the playoffs with Williams on the roster, then it’s time to blow the whole thing up.
A Bold Trade For Carolina
For better or worse, the Carolina Panthers are all-in on 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young . After the Alabama product crashed and burned with an atrocious supporting cast, first-year head coach Dave Canales did his best to surround the youngster with promising playmakers. Diontae Johnson and first-round pick Xavier Legette can make plays down the field, while guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis will provide adequate interior protection. However, if they want to make life as easy as possible for Young, they’ll try to trade for Trent Williams.
The jury is still out on whether or not 2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu can be a franchise-caliber tackle. The North Carolina State product didn’t improve after a promising rookie season, but perhaps the San Francisco 49ers believe he could be their left tackle of the future. By sending Ekwonu and a pick for Trent Williams, both the 49ers and Panthers could get immediate help in this hypothetical trade.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
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