Lions GM Brad Holmes made it clear the team intends to pick up Jameson Williams’ 5th-year option, but his future beyond 2026 is unclear.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it pretty clear his intentions are to activate the fifth-year rookie option for receiver Jameson Williams.
“It’s heading that way, that we’re, you know, most likely gonna be doing that,” Holmes said Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Florida. “Look, he was a tremendous player for us last year. He’s still scratching the surface. I do think he’s got more in him as well. So I just think it just makes sense for us to do what we can to keep him around.”
Because Williams was a first-round pick, the Lions get the opportunity to extend his rookie contract one more year (into the 2026 season) for a fully-guaranteed season, automatically set at $15,493,000. The deadline to make this decision is May 1.
Williams is coming off his first big season after spending the majority of his rookie year sidelined with a college injury and dealing with a suspension and a moderate acclimation process in his second year. In 2024, Williams hit 1,001 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 58 catches—along with another 61 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As it pertains to Williams’ future with the team beyond that 2026 season, Holmes admitted they aren’t ready to commit to him long-term.
“In terms of extension, again, there’s a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming,” Holmes said. “But it’s just one that you just don’t know what’s going to happen from a financial standpoint. Because a wide receiver, it’s expensive. It’s very expensive. Look, these are good problems to have.”
Managing the team’s budget beyond 2025 was a big theme in Holmes’ media session Monday, noting that it was a big reason the Lions weren’t a heavy spender in free agency this year. And with extensions likely coming for several of the following players—Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch—it appears the Lions are willing to wait on their decision with Williams. But it’s also clear Holmes will be conscientious of spending at the wide receiver position, considering the Lions are already spending $30 million a year on All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
With Williams now expected to be under contract for two more seasons, Detroit can enjoy the fruits of his production on a very manageable contract, and then make a decision on his future when they’re forced to cross that bridge in 2027.
