By Loveth 
The Detroit Lions have a big decision to make about wide receiver Jameson Williams, and it looks like they’re planning to keep him around for at least another season.
As a former first-round pick, Williams’ rookie contract includes a fifth-year option, and the Lions have until May 1 to decide whether to activate it for the 2026 season. According to Detroit’s general manager Brad Holmes, the team is leaning toward keeping him.
“It’s heading that way that we are most likely going to be doing that,” Holmes said at the NFL’s annual meeting. “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 makes sense for us to do what we can to keep him around.”
It wasn’t always a sure thing. In his first two seasons, Williams had just 25 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns. But in 2024, he had a breakout year with 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also made big plays in the postseason, including a 61-yard touchdown run against Washington in the playoffs.
If the Lions exercise the option, Williams will be locked in for 2026 at $15.493 million. If not, he’d be set to hit free agency after the 2025 season—unless the Lions sign him to a long-term deal or use the franchise tag, though both options would be expensive.
Holmes acknowledged the financial challenge, saying, “His fifth-year option’s coming. It’s looking likely that we’ll just go ahead and pick that up. But in terms of an extension, there’s a lot of other deals we’re hoping to make. Wide receivers are expensive. It’s very expensive.”
The Lions have been benefiting from young talent on affordable rookie deals, but those contracts don’t last forever. Williams isn’t the only player in line for a payday—Aidan Hutchinson, who was drafted alongside Williams in 2022, also has a fifth-year option coming up, and his price tag is expected to be even higher at $20.862 million.
Bottom line? Williams has shown his worth, and the Lions don’t want to lose him. It’s not official yet, but it looks like he’ll be wearing blue and silver through at least 2026.