San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams speaks during a news conference after NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Jan. 17, 2026.

Contractual stalemates between an NFL team and their star player put organizations between a rock and a hard place. But for the 49ers and veteran tackle Trent Williams, San Francisco is also between another rock and an even harder place.

About 90 minutes before general manager John Lynch was scheduled to speak to reporters on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Williams and the Niners “currently are struggling to find a contractual solution” regarding the player’s upcoming $38.8 million cap hit next season.

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“If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players........

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