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Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With the start of the early free agent negotiating window 13 days away, the San Francisco 49ers have a big piece of business they’re hoping to get done soon: figuring out the contract situation for left tackle Trent Williams.
As it stands, Williams is entering the final year of his deal and carries a salary cap number of $38.84 million, which includes a base salary of $22.21 million and has a $10 million option bonus due in the coming weeks. That option bonus has increased the urgency to strike a deal that works for both sides.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday that Williams and the Niners are «struggling to find a contractual solution.» Soon after, Niners general manager John Lynch spoke to reporters at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and offered a more optimistic perspective.
«What I’ll tell you is that in recent weeks I’ve met with both Trent and with his agent, Vincent Taylor, and had really good, productive and substantive meetings,» Lynch said. «And so, here’s what I know. Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner and it’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player, how great of a player he’s been. He’s going to be 38 years old and so there’s some things that go into that, but I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positive about where that’s going.»
Minnesota Vikings’ general manager before he was fired in January, is back working in the team’s personnel department, Lynch said.
According to Lynch, Adofo-Mensah called him soon after the Vikings let him go and Lynch promptly told him that he had a place in San Francisco if he’s looking to return.
«That developed into more substantive talks and we’re bringing him back in a personnel executive role,» Lynch said. «After the draft, I think we hope to give more finality to, but we’re excited to have him back.»
Adofo-Mensah has already been back around the building and helping out, Lynch said. What his role ultimately is or if Adofo-Mensah is around long term will be determined later.
«Sometimes you do these things kind of on a temporary, let’s just get through the draft and then we’ll figure out exactly how we want to use them or what the permanent role might be if we can come to that. Or maybe something else comes his way,» Lynch said.
During his time meeting with reporters, Lynch also said the Niners agreed to terms on a contract extension for long snapper Jon Weeks and that the team is «not anticipating» using the franchise tag on kicker Eddy Pineiro but will continue to work on a new deal for him.
