Detroit Lions’ new offensive coordinator John Morton has begun his tenure with the team by predicting even bigger things from wide receiver Jameson Williams.
The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator may have changed, but the expectations for the offensive unit remain as high as ever.
Following last season’s playoff loss to a Jalen Daniels-inspired Washington Commanders, new offensive coordinator John Morton will look to continue where new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson did in piloting the Lions’ offense to great heights.
That will likely mean continuing to squeeze more from the likes of Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but also in developing the team’s younger players into more regular contributors.
Fortunately, Morton believes he’s identified a player ready to take the next step.
John Morton tips Jameson Williams for breakout year
Speaking at a media availability session on Tuesday, Morton lauded fourth-year wideout Jameson Williams, and made a bold prediction about his upcoming season.
“Unbelievable,” said Morton, when asked about Williams. “In the meetings, attention to detail, I’m so excited to see him this year. It’s gonna be a breakout year, so I can’t wait.”
This is Morton’s second time working with Williams, having previously worked with him in 2022, when he was a senior offensive assistant with the Lions.
After a spell with the Denver Broncos, helping develop quarterback Bo Nix, Morton was hired back to Detroit as the team’s new offensive coordinator, replacing Ben Johnson, who departed to be the head coach for the Chicago Bears.
Morton’s clearly very excited to get to work with him again.
Jameson Williams can cash in with a breakout year
There’s a big incentive for Williams to prove Morton right, however, and it revolves around his contract. As he’s entering his fourth year, the Lions are reaching the point where they must either extend Williams or decide to move on.
They were able to kick that can down the road once this offseason, by picking up the fifth-year option available in all first-round rookie contracts, but that only moves the crunch point into next offseason.
While he’ll still be around for the next two years, as next year will be a fully guaranteed $15.4m year under the terms of that fifth-year option, he’ll surely be hoping for more long term security.
A year building on last season’s 58-catch, 1000 yard effort would all but guarantee that. If Morton’s hype’s justified, that’ll lead to a great season for Williams, and likely a successful one for the Lions too.
