49ers Trent Williams reveals how Ricky Pearsall shooting rushed timeline on historic $82,660,000 contract extension
After a long holdout, Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed on terms for a new contract extension. The star left tackle has signed a three-year, $82.66 million restructured deal, and it includes $48 million in fully guaranteed money.
Williams was away from the team, didn't participate in the training camp, and was not expected to play in Week 1. However, now that he has signed a new deal, the 36-year-old could potentially play against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
While talking about his contract extension, Williams mentioned that Ricky Pearsall getting shot during an attempted robbery played a factor in him signing the deal. The 49ers rookie was involved in a brawl and was shot in the chest in San Francisco last Saturday.
Fortunately, Pearsall is in stable condition and has been released from the hospital.
Talking about Pearsall and his contract extension, Williams said:
"I've never experienced that like in my playing career, to have a teammate you know, shot, so to speak. So, in my mind, I'm like, man, I just want to get back, get around the team like Ricky stood out to me because when I popped in for OTAs for 30 minutes I was here, he did, like go out of his way to come and introduce himself to me..."
"So for him to come up and kind of introduce, and I just instantly felt his vibe. And, you know, can just feel he's such a genuine person. So, I've seen that happen. I'm like... I just want to be, you know, a voice in his ear let him know everything gonna be alright, be there for the team."
The 49ers have a stacked roster, but without Trent Williams, they would have had many issues. Now that the star tackle is ready to play football, the 49ers will aim to win their first Super Bowl since 1995.
Moreover, Ricky Pearsall is also expected to make a full recovery from the shooting incident and play this season.
With Williams signing a deal, Jets' Haason Reddick remains the only player in the NFL who is holding out due to a contract.
Trent Williams contract: Ranking five highest-paid left tackles
Trent Williams will earn close to $27.5 million annually with his new deal. He is now deservedly the highest-paid left tackle in the league. Here is the full list of the top five highest-paid left tackles in the NFL:
- Trent Williams - San Francisco 49ers: $27.5 million
- Christian Darrisaw - Minnesota Vikings: $26 million
- Laremy Tunsil - Houston Texans: $25 million
- Andrew Thomas - New York Giants: $23.5 million
- Jordan Mailata - Philadelphia Eagles: $22 million
Note: The money mentioned is in average annual value (AAV).
The upcoming season is crucial for the 49ers, as they might not have such a stacked roster again for a long time. They need to make the most of their opportunity and finally get the job done. i.e., win a Super Bowl.