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There’s a reason very few good offensive linemen become free agents.
When teams find a goalie, they keep him.
Three teams have already taken action to lock free agent offensive linemen with the franchise tag. And the 49ers certainly would have done the same with Trent Williams, except that he had it listed in his contract, he couldn’t be tagged.
Smart movement.
Williams said in January he wanted to return to the 49ers. But he also expressed his intrigue in learning his value in the open market – a rarity for a top-flight offensive tackle.
“San Francisco would be the top contender anyway,” Williams said. “So even if it happens to free will, it won’t be because I’m trying to go somewhere else. Maybe it’s just because I want to see my worth.
“It’s been 11 years in this league, and I haven’t seen a left franchise tackle go into the open market yet. I think it would be interesting to see what (my) value holds. “
Williams was expected to be an attractive free agent as there should not be many comparable players available in his role.
Now there are even fewer.
The Carolina Panthers used their franchise tag on offensive tackle Taylor Moton. The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to lock out tackle Cam Robinson, the NFL Network reported Tuesday morning.
Additionally, Washington has placed the tag on its guard Brandon Scherff, reports JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.
The one-year tag for offensive linemen is expected to be around $ 14 million. Because Scherff is tagged for a second year in a row, its price will be around $ 18 million.
Williams is likely aiming for a multi-year contract of around $ 20 million per season.
Williams is clearly the best offensive lineman available in free agency. Pittsburgh left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, 32, is likely the second tackle in the market after securing a four-year, $ 24 million deal he signed in 2017.
RELATED: 49ers Should Have $ 28 Million in Salary Cap Space
The 49ers acquired Williams in a Washington Draft trade to replace retired tackle Joe Staley. After missing the 2019 season, Williams returned to action with the 49ers and was arguably the best offensive tackle of the game.
His mix of size, strength, agility and technique makes Williams a perfect fit for the demands of Kyle Shanahan’s offense as a pass protector and run blocker.
He has been selected for the Pro Bowl for the eighth time in 10 seasons in the NFL. He turns 33 in July.
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