The Best of the Day: March 17th, 2021

Trent Williams’ historic O-Line contract headlines Free Agency day 3

The San Francisco 49ers and OT Trent Williams agreed to a 6y/$138M deal, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. The contract includes $55M in guaranteed money as well as a $30M signing bonus. An 8x Pro Bowler, Williams spent his first nine seasons with Washington before being acquired by the 49ers via trade during the 2020 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers are re-signing OT Trent Williams on a 6y/$138M deal ($55M gtd), making him the highest-paid Offensive Lineman in NFL history pic.twitter.com/o1MBbM0JLx

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 17, 2021

There was some doubt as to how Williams would perform this year after sitting out all 2019-20 due to a dispute over Washington’s handling of his injury situation as well as his contract. However, the 32-year-old put those doubts to rest early, finishing with the fourth best pass block win rate among OTs in 2020 (93.6%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Williams wasn’t the only free agent who made waves on Wednesday though, as long-time Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson decided to head up north and sign with the Minnesota Vikings on a 1y/$10M deal. In his 10 seasons in the desert, Peterson was an 8x Pro Bowler and a 3x All-Pro while being named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.

8x Pro Bowl CB Patrick Peterson is signing with the Minnesota Vikings on a 1y/$10M deal pic.twitter.com/AwKfDjCQgo

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 18, 2021

Other notable moves included two WRs signing elsewhere, as Washington landed Curtis Samuel on a 3y/$34.5M deal ($24.5M gtd) and Arizona added A.J. Green (1y/$6M plus $2.5M incentives). Also, the Patriots brought back LB Kyle Van Noy (2y/$13M) and the Cowboys re-signed CB Jourdan Lewis (3y/$16.5M). With more players going off the table every day, teams will be looking quickly to sign the remaining available free agents before it’s too late.

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