49ers, star tackle Trent Williams agree to $82.7 million 'peace treaty'

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Left tackle Trent Williams insisted he wasn’t trying to dodge training camp. But with the San Francisco 49ers’ regular-season opener only six days away, he showed up to work Tuesday assured that his financial future coincided with his worth as a three-time All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler.

“A guy of my stature with my age, security was important,” Williams, 36, said after practice.

A three-year, $82.66 million deal gave him that, including a $25.7 million signing bonus and $48 million guaranteed, according to his Elite Loyalty Spots agency.

Williams did not expect such a drawn-out contract dispute for his absence, one that cost him roughly $4.5 million in fines that can not be waived or reduced

“I didn’t try to think about it,” Williams said of those costs. “For the lack of a better word, it’s kind of war. Both sides are going to lose a little blood but wave the white flag at the end. We both signed a little peace treaty and we’re good.”

Williams corroborated coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s previous statements that they maintained a positive rapport throughout the process, with Williams adding: “Kyle is like family to me.”

Williams knew the 49ers had other contractual matters on the table to deal with when he showed up for June’s minicamp and left without a deal. Running back Christian McCaffrey had just received a two-year extension, and the 49ers were in the midst of Brandon Aiyuk’s contract saga that didn’t end until last Friday’s four-year extension.

Also compelling Williams to end his dispute: Saturday’s Union Square shooting of rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose genuine “vibe” made a positive first impression when they met in June.

As McCaffrey and Aiyuk suited up for Tuesday’s light one-hour practice, so did Williams, who exchanged hugs with several team members as he pulled on his No. 71 jersey for the first time since February’s Super Bowl week.

Williams’ goal is to keep throwing on that jersey and tossing around defenders until he’s 40.

“I know at my age, I know there are not a lot of people who’ve played at an All-Pro level outside of a quarterback. I want to bust those barriers and show this is a new age,” WIlliams said. “The research we’ve done, how they’ve done and sculpted our schedules to keep us fresher and keep the banging off of our bodies, it allows you to play longer and I want to take advantage of that.”

Williams arrived via his private jet at San Jose International Airport at 3:34 a.m. Tuesday, just under a week before the 49ers’ season opener Monday night against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium. He has been on the 49ers’ Reserve/Did Not Report list for the past month, so the 49ers will need to make a corresponding move to add him to the 53-man roster. He’s been working out at his Houston gym throughout training camp.

“This offseason to me has been very very productive — not in a football sense but in the getting ready for football with my training,” Williams said. “At age 36 try to find different ways to get 1 percent better. Me and my trainer James Cooper locked in early and changed some stuff. Little things in my life I had to weed out getting older.”

Retirement was not under consideration, he said, noting that he “was dang near in depression” watching from afar as other NFL players participated in joint practices and the preseason.

“I just needed that camaraderie. I needed to see my boys,” Williams said. “The last time we were together, it wasn’t what we wanted it to be.”

That last time was Super Bowl LVIII, which the 49ers lost in overtime to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Williams’ last contract came three years ago when he signed a six-year, $138.06 million deal that was the NFL’s highest for an offensive lineman. Since then, he has earned All-Pro honors in three straight seasons, while five other offensive tackles have passed his annual salary average.

Added Williams: “I was under contract until I’m 38. … We’ve seen people play at that age but not play as the best at their position if not a quarterback. I get it. It’s more logs in the fire to prove I can be something they haven’t seen before.”

Jaylon Moore has filled in for Williams as the 49ers’ first-string left tackle throughout the spring workouts, training camp and preseason. Moore is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. On Monday, the 49ers re-signed Brandon Parker, their second-string right tackle throughout training camp. Williams, however, has no intentions of leaving his post anytime soon.

“I’m going to play as long as I can. As long as I feel I’m a productive player and I have something to offer, I want to play football. It’s all I’ve done since the second grade,” Williams said. “But Father Time is undefeated as what we’ve seen. You can fight him off for a bit. going through the process, that was the goal.

“I told myself, ‘Obviously this deal is done, get it out of the way,’ but how I’ve always conducted myself after signing a deal, I’ve never thought about what I’ve signed for. I’ve thought about what I could get next and how could I prove I was worth that or more.”

____