Lions analyst lays out precise blueprint for Jameson Williams to get paid

The 2024 season was clearly a big one for the career of Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. To his credit, starting with OTAs all the way through, he took some major steps on his way to topping 1,000 yards for the first time. He showed more maturity as a man and teammate, while becoming a more complete receiver.

Still, Williams' third season was not without hiccups. A two-game performance-enhancing substance suspension last October was followed shortly after by news of a gun incident he was involved in related to legal possession of a firearm. He was not charged in relation to the gun incident, and he was not disciplined by the NFL either.

Multiple fines for touchdown celebrations that crossed the line last season is also a bit of a thing for Williams, since they also puts the team in a bind after a 15-yard penalty is assessed on the field.

The Lions are prioritizing keeping "their own", with significant contract extensions for cornerstone players they drafted. And there is still some notable business coming on that front, to the point they of course won't be able to pay everyone.

Back in March general manager Brad Holmes confirmed the decision to pick up Williams' fifth-year option for 2026, while also noting the challenge of having another very highly-paid wide receiver.

"In terms of extensions, again, there's a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming, but it's just one that you don't know what's gonna happen from a financial standpoint," Holmes said. "Because a wide receiver is very expensive. Look, these are good problems to have."

It's fair to say Williams will be plenty motivated to prove himself worthy of a nice contract extension this year. The Lions could kick that contractual can even further with the franchise tag after 2026, but it's more likely they'll commit to Williams longer-term, or not, in the meantime.

Lions beat writer lays out precise plan for Jameson Williams to get paid

What Williams needs to do prove himself worthy of a contract extension in the $30 million per year range (hypothetically) feels clear.

Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports has plainly spelled it out point-by-point, in response to a question he got on Twitter about how many yards Williams need to have this year to get "the bag."

Payton's broader premise on what Williams has to do get his bag from the Lions was "it likely has to be a lot."

Payton started with Williams needs to "go over 1,000 yards", which he of course did last year. But the bar has to go higher this year.

"If you want to show the Lions that they absolutely can't live without you, you can't simply reach 1,000 yards", Payton wrote, "you have to go over. But you don't have to go too much over. 1,100 yards is still pretty good. That would have been 15th in the league last year.

"Stay Healthy" this season was Payton's second criteria for Williams to get paid. He has mostly avoided injuries since the torn ACL in his final college game that postponed his NFL debut, so this one shouldn't be overly difficult.

Payton's third and final point is the most important one: "No More Drama."

"It does not get any bigger than this one right here", Payton wrote. "There can't be a third suspension for Williams. There can't be any police stuff or anything like that. No off-field drama whatsoever, and he's a rich man in Detroit." 

"There can't be any on-field drama either", Payton continued. "That means no picking up taunting penalties, and the touchdown celebrations have to be a little cleaner. I know that's nerdy as hell, but the league made it very clear at the league meetings that they will be cracking down on any celebrations they deem to be violent or obscene."

Payton focused on laying out what Williams has to do to prove the Lions should give him a big contract extension after this season, and it's all unequivocally true. But those points also stand for the general idea of proving himself worthy of a big second contract, whether he gets it from the Lions or someone else.