Trent Williams has been one of those players with a long history of holdouts. The veteran offensive tackle missed around 40 days of training with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 season, seeking a restructured contract. However, to avoid a similar situation, the 49ers agreed to a new contract with Williams, but with an unusual twist.
“NOTABLE and new: The 49ers and Trent Williams introduce a NO HOLDOUT BONUS to thread the needle,” wrote 49ers’ insider David Lombardi on X. “$37 million of Trent Williams’ new contract is fully guaranteed. He can fully secure $11.5m more as a 2028 roster bonus if he does not hold out or miss any offseason time in 2027.”
According to details of the agreement, Williams will receive $37 million in fully guaranteed money as part of a two-year deal worth around $50 million. On top of that, he can earn up to $11.5 million more. But it will be through a conditional roster bonus tied to his participation in team activities.
The conditional bonus, scheduled for 2028, will only be paid if Trent Williams does not hold out or miss any offseason program time in 2027. If Williams skips mandatory or voluntary activities as part of a contract dispute, he would eventually forfeit the additional payment.
Such “no holdout” clauses are uncommon in NFL contracts. Performance-based incentives, such as those tied to playing time, awards, or team success, are more typical. For instance, take Nahshon Wright as an example. In the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears rewarded the cornerback with a $1,441,397 performance-based bonus for the 2025 season. It was solely because Wright’s on-field playing time far exceeded his relatively low base salary.
The “no holdout” clause is relatively new, but was seemingly introduced to provide balance between both sides.
Williams is widely regarded as one of the league’s top left tackles. With this new contract deal, he would secure a significant guaranteed sum at this stage of his career. Meanwhile, the 49ers gain added protection against potential disruptions during future offseason programs.
By attaching a financial incentive to attendance, the team surely aims to ensure continuity in their preparations during the offseason.
NOTABLE and new: The 49ers and Trent Williams introduce a NO HOLDOUT BONUS to thread the needle:
$37 million of Trent Williams’ new contract is fully guaranteed. He can fully secure $11.5m more as a 2028 roster bonus if he does not hold out or miss any offseason time in 2027 pic.twitter.com/7wpd9Ew9a0
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 5, 2026
Now, as contract negotiations across the league continue to evolve, similar clauses could become more common in future high-profile deals.
This is a developmental story. Stay tuned for more updates
