49ers Can Weather Some Time Without Brandon Aiyuk, Not Without Trent Williams: Dan Orlovsky

Brandon Aiyuk recently resolved his contract dispute with the San Francisco 49ers by agreeing to a four-year, $120 million extension. However, the holdout with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams continues, frustrating former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky. So much so that Orlovsky made it clear during an NFL Live segment that the 49ers could be in big trouble if the contract isn’t finalized and the team loses its offensive star.

Orlovsky believes that while the 49ers have the ability to manage without Aiyuk, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to do the same without Williams. “I think San Francisco can weather some time without Brandon Aiyuk… They cannot weather a single moment without Trent Williams,” he said.

For Orlovsky, while Aiyuk’s impact is crucial for spreading the field and making plays, Williams’ contribution on the offensive line is equally indispensable.

When HC Kyle Shanahan designs strategies to exploit opposing defenses with short passes and assigns RBs like Christian McCaffrey to operate in open areas, Williams’ protection is vital for helping the quarterback deliver precise throws and keeping defenders away from other key players.

The absence of Williams would significantly complicate the execution of these tactics, argues the analyst.

Not surprisingly, the majority of fans agreed with Orlovsky. One person commented that Williams is more crucial to the 49ers’ offense, while another suggested that the team should have prioritized paying Trent first. See for yourselves:

It’s quite clear that most fans want Williams to get paid. Fortunately for them, HC Shanahan and GM John Lynch are on the same page.

Lynch and Shanahan stay hopeful for Williams’ impending extension

During Wednesday’s press conference, Shanahan and Lynch spoke about the Trent Williams contract issue. The duo did not share specifics but showed hope that a fresh agreement is close at hand.

“There’s good communication… we’re constantly working, throwing out ideas to try to have a breakthrough,” Lynch confirmed.

Shanahan, on the other hand, stated that the team must assess Williams’ physical and mental condition before deciding on an extension. While he acknowledged that there isn’t a set timeframe for finalizing the contract, the head coach hinted at flexibility, saying:

“That all depends on when we see him, how he looks, how he feels. I haven’t talked to him for a number of days. But Trent will give every day, we’ll let it be as close as possible… There wasn’t a day that we would put on the calendar that would be our last day.”

Clearly, there are only positive indications regarding Williams’ extension, and given that the involved parties are actively engaged in negotiations, it’s highly likely that the deal will be finalized very soon.