Jameson Williams is one of several Detroit Lions players looking to have a spectacular 2025 season in order to lock in a lucrative new deal.
Williams, a fourth year player, is trying to prove to Lions brass that not only should he be off the table as a trade chip, but he should be considered a core piece of the teams' offense alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
With training camp fully underway for Detroit, eyes are on Williams to see if he can keep performing to the level he did in 2024 - that is to say, at a 1,000+ receiving yard level alongisde St. Brown in the Lions' wide receiving corp. If early clips of Williams in practice are any indication, it's clear that Williams is going to have another spectacular start to the season with the Lions.
Williams is seen in this clip moving fluidly and managing to use his hands, not his body, to make a nice catch after a route. It's a simple play and not one performed while facing any sort of pressure on the rep, but it's still extremely encouraging to see that Williams is locked in at the very beginning of camp and ahead of the teams' Hall of Fame game on July 31st.
It's unlikely he suits up for any serious reps in that contest, which is the case for likely all of the Lions' starters. That's especially going to be the case considering how many injuries keep piling up for Detroit - first to Levi Onwuzurike, then to Ennis Rakestraw, and now reportedly to Roy Lopez and Sione Vaki on Monday.
Williams needs a huge Year 4
Williams is among those with the Lions that are playing for a new deal after the 2025 season is wrapped up. Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta, Jack Campbell and Jahmyr Gibbs are some of the big names set to highlight Detroit's free agent fiasco after this year, and they're currently in a pickle in regards to LB Alex Anzalone as he seeks a deal.
With another 1,000 or more receiving yard season, Williams could be looking at a deal in the ballpark of a three year deal worth $75 million - at least, that's the prediction that SI's Christian Booher provided last month.
While Detroit is lucky to have another star receiver in St. Brown, which would soften the blow of letting Williams walk in 2027, they should be looking to hang onto him if he continues to generate as much offense as he did in 2024.
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Cincinnati Bengals work just fine with elite wide receiver duos - the Lions have to make sure to maintain the same stability with their duo in Williams and St. Brown.
