After being limited in each of his first two NFL seasons, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams emerged as one of the league's elite deep threats in 2024.
Williams set numerous career-high statistical totals, including receiving yards (1,001), catches (58) and touchdowns (seven). He demonstrated a more nuanced route tree, and became a threat that opposing defenses had to consistently gameplan for.
Among his notable feats, Williams' four 50-yard touchdown receptions tied Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase for the league lead. Additionally, he finished second in yards per reception with 17.3 amongst receivers with at least 30 catches.
Indianapolis' Alec Pierce led the league in yards per catch with an average of 22.3 on his 37 receptions.
He also made some Lions franchise history, becoming the first wideout to record five receptions of 50 or more yards since Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson did so in 2013. This number tied Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. for the most in the league.
The Alabama product is also the first player in team history to record seven 30-yard receiving touchdowns to start their career.
Williams is one of three players in team history to record a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game, as he did so against San Francisco in Week 17 on Monday Night Football. He also became the third player in team history to score three 50-yard touchdowns within the team's first four games.
Three of Williams' touchdowns were 60 yards or longer, including a career-long 82-yard scoring grab against the Chicago Bears. This stat ties him for first in franchise history with Cloyce Box, who did it in two separate seasons, and John Greene.
In total, Williams' first three seasons have been prolific. Over his first three seasons, he has the highest average yards after catch with 7.2 amongst wide receivers with a minimum 75 receptions since 1992.
The Lions will face an intriguing decision regarding Williams' long-term future with the team. He is extension-eligible beginning this offseason, and the organization can keep him through at least the end of the 2026 season by picking up his fifth-year option.
However, the price to re-sign a receiver of his caliber could be steep, and because of this, it will be intriguing to see how the Lions organization navigates the final stages of his rookie contract.
Jameson Williams Not Lions Only Bold Trade Up Attempt
The Detroit Lions' biggest move to date in the NFL draft under Brad Holmes was to trade up 20 spots in the first round to select wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Using the 32nd overall pick in the 2022 draft acquired from the Los Angeles Rams, Holmes built a package to move up and secure the speedy wideout. While that is the biggest move, Detroit's fifth-year general manager admitted that he's attempted to make other moves to go up in the draft.
"I know we did the Jameson Williams trade that was pretty far up there from where we were at," Holmes said Thursday. "That hasn't been the only year that we've attempted to do that, not at that specific position, but just for a player. And it takes two people to do a trade and there's some teams that just don't want to go that far back and so it takes two."
Williams has dealt with plenty of adversity through injuries and suspensions, but had a breakout third season. He totaled 1,001 receiving yards last season, one of several career-best marks he recorded in his third NFL season.
Here is a collection of Detroit Lions headlines on Friday, April 18.
1.) National writer Albert Breer gave his thoughts on the team's draft strategy heading into the event, explaining that the team's culture and roster depth could allow them to take a risk at the EDGE position.
2.) ProFootballTalk opined that Aaron Rodgers shouldn't have been surprised to hear that the New York Jets and new head coach Aaron Glenn were moving on from him at quarterback.
3.) Sports Illustrated conducted a mock draft and analyzed the team's needs with the draft less than a week away.
4.) Detroit Football Network analyzed four prospects that would be worth a trade up from Holmes and the Lions.
