Could Trent Williams emerge as a free-agent target for Patriots?

New England Patriots

Trent Williams has earned five All-Pro nods over the course of his standout career.

Trent Williams would be an immediate upgrade to New England’s offensive line. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)

There are plenty of questions revolving around the state of the Patriots’ offensive line going into this offseason — especially after New England was caved in at the line of scrimmage by Seattle in Super Bowl LX.

While New England could either keep Will Campbell at left tackle in 2026 or try to add another tackle prospect via the 2026 NFL Draft, Eliot Wolf and the Patriots’ options are generally limited when it comes to immediately adding an All-Pro talent at tackle this spring.

After all, very few franchise tackles hit free agency — nor are they usually dangled out on the trade market given their value and scarcity across the NFL ranks.

But could that change this offseason?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers and franchise left tackle Trent Williams “are struggling to find a contract solution” this offseason.

“If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players available,” Schefter wrote on X.

Williams, who is set to command a cap hit of $39 million in 2026, isn’t exactly a long-term fixture for any franchise — given that he’s 37 years old.

But Williams has been a dominant presence for years between his time with Washington and San Francisco — earning five All-Pro nods and appearing in 12 total Pro Bowls. Despite his age, Williams’ 91.5 PFF grade ranked third among 89 total offensive tackles in the NFL this past season.

If the 49ers can’t come to terms on a new deal with Williams, he’d immediately become one of the top free agents on the market.

If Williams is cut by San Francisco, they would be responsible for a $34 million dead cap hit. However, that cap allocation could be spread out over two years if he’s cut after June 1, 2026.

Williams wouldn’t be a long-term investment for New England, nor would he come cheap. But if New England is looking to max out the next few years will trying to make the most of Drake Maye’s affordable rookie contract, Williams could be a worthwhile investment.

Patriots executive vice president of personnel Eliot Wolf acknowledged that offensive tackle should be an area of need this offseason, even if the team is comfortable with keeping Campbell at left tackle moving forward.

“Is offensive tackle a need, you know, Vederian [Lowe is] a free agent. Thayer [Munford] is a free agent and Morgan [Moses] is 35 years old,” Wolf said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He played awesome this year, but he’s 35 years old. So, tackle would be a need for our team.”

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.