The Kansas City Chiefs are quietly watching the left tackle market again. A new report suggests the team has interest in trading for San Francisco 49ers veteran Trent Williams if contract talks stall. The situation comes as Kansas City continues to search for long-term stability on Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.Kansas City drafted Josh Simmons in the first round last year, but injuries and a midseason absence disrupted his rookie campaign. That uncertainty has pushed the Chiefs to monitor veteran options. Now, one of the league’s most decorated tackles is back on their radar as negotiations in San Francisco remain unresolved.
NFL trade rumors : Kansas City Chiefs revisit veteran tackle route as Trent Williams situation stays unsettled
According to Jason La Canfora of Casino.com on April 6, the Chiefs would be “ready to pounce” in a trade if Trent Williams and the 49ers fail to reach a new deal. The report added that Kansas City still prefers a veteran at left tackle despite investing a first-round pick in Simmons. That detail signals real interest, not just routine monitoring.The talks mainly heated up after the San Francisco 49ers declined to exercise the $10 million option bonus Williams was due March 20. That decision boosted Williams’ 2026 salary cap number to around $47 million, but sources told Adam Schefter at the time that the team was “not overly concerned about it” and still planned to rework his deal before April’s NFL draft.Also, GM John Lynch was a bit optimistic about the situation, as he said in March that “we’ve had good communication throughout,” Lynch said. “I would say in the last week it’s kind of intensified and feel like we’re on the precipice of something good happening, but we’ll see. Don’t want to make any statements that, like, ‘Hey, we’re right there,’ because these things have felt like that before, but I do feel like we’re in good communication and hopeful.“Williams enters a contract year and turns 38 in July. The 49ers reworked his deal two years ago, but talks have reopened this offseason again. While negotiations picked up recently, no agreement has been finalized. That delay keeps trade speculation alive. Kansas City finished second in the Williams sweepstakes back in 2021 before San Francisco signed him to a six-year, $138.1 million contract.The Chiefs’ tackle history also explains the renewed push. Orlando Brown Jr. handled the role for two seasons before leaving in 2023. Donovan Smith filled the gap during the Super Bowl LVIII run, but he did not return. Kansas City then rotated multiple starters in 2025, including Joe Thuney, who shifted outside. The position remained unstable all year.Simmons’ rookie deal runs through 2028, but he missed time for personal reasons and later suffered a season-ending wrist injury on Thanksgiving. That timeline raised doubts about immediate reliability. The team also signed Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal in 2025, yet he could slide to right tackle after Jawaan Taylor’s release.La Canfora also mentioned Taylor Decker as a fallback option. The longtime Lions tackle requested a release after stalled negotiations and is expected to play in 2026. Still, the Chiefs appear higher on Williams. If talks in San Francisco break down, Kansas City could finally land the elite left tackle it pursued years ago.
