49ers' Trent Williams on his future: ‘Not going to retire with something left in the tank'
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Trent Williams has seen it all as he gets ready for his 16th NFL season, but he is admittedly new to the whole voluntary organized team activity thing he's participated in this offseason.
The San Francisco 49ers' left tackle has been at team headquarters for a couple of weeks now, including Tuesday's start of the team's two-day mandatory minicamp. While he said he doesn't regret missing every non-mandatory session the past 10 years, he is very excited to have been around more this offseason.
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'You wouldn't think that this is a team that went 6-11 last year,' Williams said Tuesday. 'The confidence, the way the kids are flying around. … The new draft class to me looks like it has several steals, several great picks that are going to contribute.
'I was really pleased to see how the confidence and how the atmosphere is coming back and kind of being around the guys for the first time.'
Wednesday's session is the last practice before the team parts ways until training camp in six weeks. Williams, who turns 37 next month, had mentioned last year that he would like to play until he is 40 years old, and pooh-poohed any talk of retirement.
'I didn't give it a lot of thought (this offseason), honestly,' Williams said. 'I just feel like I do myself and my teammates a disservice if I'm looking towards the end. I'm paid and people count on me to be here now and we've got goals and aspirations as a team. I just don't think putting brain power towards that helps us get to where we want to go.
'You know, when it happens, it happens. I feel like I'll know. One day I should know when it's getting (to be) that time and then I'll do the responsible thing and let them know early enough so that they can make the adjustments needed … (but) I'm definitely not going to retire with something left in the tank.'
Williams said his ankle injury, which caused him to miss seven games last season, was completely healed by February. And 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said while he was thrilled Williams came to work early this year, the team will manage his workload.
'With age and the wear and tear and stuff, we just try to keep (his) legs fresher and stuff,' Shanahan said. 'I'll be shocked if we put him out there (Wednesday). He'll be good to go for (training) camp. … He's healthy and right where he needs to be.'
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And he has always been a hard worker, even when he was training on his own in the offseason and not always at the facility. A player has to work year-round to be able to earn playing in 188 career games.
'I love Trent being around so people can see how much he does care about football, how much he does work at football,' Shanahan said. 'It's cool at his age and where he is at in his career for people to still see what he has to do to get ready. He has to do it for himself more than anything, but anytime you have the kind of credibility that someone like Trent has earned, anytime someone gets to watch him do that and watch what he puts into it will always help other people.'
And it might help him earn another redo on his contract. While Williams' deal runs through 2026, only this next season is guaranteed at $21.1 million. Williams said that 'doesn't concern' him.
'I'm taking everything one year at a time,' Williams said. 'I feel like if my play warrants a new year or two on a deal or whatever, then I'm here for it. If not, then you know it'd be time to sail on into the sunset.'
Williams did have to wave goodbye to some of his favorite teammates this offseason, as players like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks and Charvarius Ward, among others, left for new teams, while Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd were cut and Deebo Samuel and Jordan Mason were traded.
'It's always tough,' Williams said, 'but it's my 16th year, so I understand how the business goes. Those guys are family, so you wanna see the best thing happen to them that puts them in the best situation. All of those guys, I am really, really happy for them. I think that they're really blessed. Like (Aaron) Banks getting compensated, Jaylon Moore getting compensated. It's a blessing that doesn't come often in this league.
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'I think Deebo found a home that he is going to flourish in.'
Williams said he will miss those guys in the locker room and on the field, but is excited about one newcomer, former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Bryce Huff.
'He's gonna bring that speed demon off the edge, that guy that's gonna require a running back or a chip (blocker) opposite of Nick (Bosa),' Williams said. 'He adds that Dee Ford effect that they had in 2019 that took them to the Super Bowl. One of the reasons we had a really, really good defense for those couple years is having that guy who can actually make that quarterback step up by getting a good jump off the ball and bending the edge.'
Williams also was happy to shake hands with the new Brock Purdy after the quarterback signed his new $265 million contract.
'He's one of the richest people I've ever met in person,' Williams, smiling, said. 'For me, it's just super, super fulfilling just to watch a guy like Brock. You talk about a Cinderella story, and this is the epitome of that, from making a few hundred thousand a year to making 50 million a year is astronomical. … And it couldn't have happened to a better guy.'
More importantly, Williams said Purdy is 'the' guy.
'He is the guy for this franchise,' Williams said. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg. He's gonna get another contract. He's going to win a lot of football games. He's that good of a player. So super, super happy to see that happen for him. I love him like a brother, you know, so I couldn't be any happier.'
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