The San Francisco 49ers and star left tackle Trent Williams are reportedly at a contractual impasse and far apart on any sort of resolution. That cracks the door open for rival clubs, like the Green Bay Packers, to pick up one of the premier players in the NFL.
Green Bay is likely losing its blindside protector, Rasheed Walker, to free agency in the coming weeks. They can replace him in-house, but it'd require taking a leap of faith on 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan, who's far from a finished product. With that in mind, adding Williams on a short-term pact feels like an ideal all-in, win-now move for the Packers if he becomes available.
It's worth noting that this isn't the 49ers' first rodeo when it comes to standoffs with Williams. The two sides have butted heads over money multiple times since joining forces in 2020, though they've always found a common ground. However, the Packers can't help but monitor the situation closely for more reasons than one.
49ers' contract dispute with Trent Williams may present Packers with the perfect Rasheed Walker replacement
Williams is a true-blue generational talent and future Hall of Famer. He'd be a massive acquisition for the Packers (or anyone), even entering his age-38 campaign. The 12-time Pro Bowler remained one of football's most impactful and dominant forces in 2025 while Green Bay's offensive line struggled in key areas.
Only three teams had a higher pressure rate allowed than the Packers this year (40.9 percent). They were also tied for the third-fewest yards before contact per running back rush attempt (0.9). In other words, their front five failed to generate much push in passing and rushing situations.
Enter Williams, who ranked second and 12th, respectively, out of 89 qualified tackles in Pro Football Focus' pass- and run-blocking grades ($). He allowed just eight quarterback hits and four sacks across 16 games this season, excluding the playoffs. His presence would mark a significant upgrade from Walker.
Nevertheless, Williams hitting the open market can be good for the Packers regardless of where he ends up. The 2010 No. 4 overall pick would immediately supplant Walker as the top offensive tackle on the board in this scenario. Perhaps that gives Green Bay an opportunity to re-sign the latter at a reasonable cost.
For what it's worth, the 49ers don't gain much financial flexibility from releasing Williams, barring a post-June 1 designation. They also have the salary cap to take on his bloated, albeit worthwhile, $38.8 million 2026 cap hit. Put two and two together, and the idea of San Francisco willingly moving on from him seems incredibly far-fetched.