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Trent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Houston Texans have a clear vision of where they want to take the roster next, deconstructing their offensive line in a pair of trades ahead of the official start to the offseason, let alone free agency.
They also face questions with two other starters up front.
As part of the Texans’ offensive overhaul in the trenches, another trade could be in order, and Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers could be a prime target.
Texans Trade Idea Surfaces Amid Roster Shuffle
GettyTrent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his team’s 23-19 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The 33rd Team’s Steve Palazzolo posted on X on Monday that he was “Workshopping a Trent Williams to the Texans take,” following the team’s two trades that sent out starter Tytus Howard and reserve Juice Scruggs.
The Heavy Sports Texans trade pitch below would send an early-round pick to the 49ers for Williams this offseason.
Texans get:
49ers get:
Williams turns 38 in July.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2010 draft by Washington, Williams has spent the past six seasons in the Bay Area following a trade to the 49ers. A Longview native, Williams is a 12-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro, including this past season.
Adding Williams would align with a report from ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime about Texans 2025 second-round pick and starting LT Aireontae Ersery moving to the right side.
Ersery could be the lone returning starter in 2026.
It would make sense for the Texans to explore further changes if they can get a player like Williams, who is still among the best at his position in the game and could be keen on finding a way out of San Francisco.
Texans Could Have Pathway to Trent Williams Deal
GettyTrent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the New York Giants.
Williams has ties to the Texans, spending three seasons in San Francisco from 2020 through 2023 with head coach DeMeco Ryans, who began his coaching career as an assistant with the 49ers in 2016.
A trade to Houston would be a reunion with Ryans and a (relative) homecoming for Williams, who could be working on an exit strategy from the 49ers.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch expects the 49ers to acquiesce to Williams again.
“Williams, who will turn 38 in July, is set to count $38.8 million against the salary cap in 2026 in the final year of his contract. The 49ers want to lower that number by signing Williams to a spread-the-money-out extension that will carry to at least 2027,” Branch wrote in February.
“The problem for the 49ers? After their first two tussles, the same key factors are part of the latest standoff, which is why Williams and his agent, Vincent Taylor, retain the upper hand.”
Branch cited the 49ers’ lack of a replacement for Williams and the veteran’s high-level play.
While that could lead the 49ers to deliver on Branch’s prognostication, it also leaves the door open for a potential suitor like the Texans to move in with a trade offer in hopes of enticing San Francisco into a deal.
Finances Key Regarding Trent Williams
GettyTrent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Williams is heading into the final year of a three-year, $82.6 million contract with $220.7 million in career earnings. Spotrac projected his market value at $28 million annually with a two-year, $55.9 million pact as an example of what he could receive.
That could be difficult for the Texans to reconcile. They are over the cap entering the offseason.
They still have 2023 first-round picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson–the more likely of the two–entering the final years of their rookie deals.
Veteran Danielle Hunter would like another short extension, while defensive backs Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter must be accounted for. The Texans are navigating multiple roster quandaries without factoring in a potential trade for Williams, even though it might be worth it.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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