While Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had a breakthrough season in 2024, it was not completely without hiccups. He was suspended two games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy in October, and closely after that news came about a traffic stop where an unregistered gun was discovered.
Williams was not charged with anything related to the police incident, and there is no discipline coming from the NFL related to it. All along, Dan Campbell defended Williams and noted the undeniable growth he showed during his third season.
Now, the Lions have a big decision to make. First-round picks from the 2022 draft have fifth-year options that have be picked up by May 1. The Lions could also sign Williams (and/or Aidan Hutchinson) to a contract extension that would ultimately render the fifth-year option decision moot.
There's a case for the Lions to just pick up Williams' fifth-year option for 2026, and see how things play out next season. Signing him to a multi-year extension is not as much of a slam-dunk inevitability as it is with Hutchinson.
Cost of fifth-year option for Jameson Williams has been confirmed
Along with the NFL and NFLPA confirming where the salary cap will be for 2025, the cost of fifth-year options for 2022 first-round picks was locked in this past week. There is playing time and accolade criteria (original ballot Pro Bowl selections) over a first three seasons to boost the value of someone's fifth-year option, which Williams does not meet any of.
So Williams is eligible for the "basic" fifth-year option for a wide receiver, which is worth $15.493 million. According to Over The Cap, that amount is arrived at by calculating the average of the third to 25th highest salaries at a position over the past five seasons. Being selected to the Pro Bowl last season, as an example, would have boosted Williams' fifth-year option value to $21.441 million. The value of Hutchinson's fifth-year option, with one Pro Bowl selection over his first three seasons, is $19.872 million.
The Lions will likely pick up Williams' fifth-year option, perhaps well before the May 1 deadline. Then the focus would shift to what, if anything, they do in terms of a contract extension for him this offseason.
