This is a big offseason for the Detroit Lions. It’s the year in which they decide whether or not they’re going to go full win-now mode or not. It’s all the offseason where they have to decide whether or not Jameson Williams should be extended and kept around longer or be given the fifth-year option and have to earn that lengthy contract.
Right now things seem like they’re headed towards the fifth-year option instead of the extension. Williams had a really good season in 2024 but that just doesn’t erase the two suspensions, the injuries, and the Detroit Police internal investigation that he was subject to earlier this year.
There is no doubt that he can be a very good player and the Lions love him, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t plan to look out for their money. Frankly, a fifth-year option is probably the better route to go for Williams too. Let’s look at the financials (that cap expert Joshua Queipo helped us with) of both decisions and explain why.
Fifth-year option
Projected value: $15,161,000
This will be the lowest fifth-year option value for a receiver because Williams did not make a Pro Bowl in his first three seasons and he did not meet the playing time requirements to make the option higher.
It’s $15 million fully guaranteed and this would have Williams playing with the Lions until at least 2026. If he balls out in 2025, the Lions will assuredly look to extend him them and then he can make more than this.
Extension
Projected value: Three-year $57 million with $36.5 million guaranteed and $26.5 fully guaranteed.
This is not a bad deal, but if Williams can play a full season in 2025 with no injuries, suspensions, or drama of any type and ball out, he can make himself one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL after that year. It makes sense to bet on yourself in this situation because if you win, and we think Williams can, you’ll win big.