Jameson Williams hauled in a nice payday the day before his regular season begins.
The Lions agreed to terms with the wide receiver on a three-year deal worth a max value of $83 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday evening, per a source. Detroit officially announced the extension through the 2029 season on Sunday.
Williams, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft, initially came along slowly for Detroit, needing to overcome a torn ACL from college in his rookie year and a pair of suspensions during his subsequent two campaigns, but he broke out for the team in 2024.
A rangy deep threat, Williams had 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns on 58 receptions last season, bringing his career totals to 83 catches for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He more than proved his worth as Detroit's surefire WR2 next to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Together with St. Brown, who is especially dominant on quick and intermediate routes, he forms a duo that provides quarterback Jared Goff with difference-making wide receivers at every level of the field.
Williams was set to be under contract through 2026 thanks to Detroit picking up his fifth-year rookie option, but the Lions made sure to push any potential impasse years beyond that as they look to continue lighting up the league.
The Lions are coming off a season in which they ranked first in points scored and second in yards gained. With offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gone to coach the Chicago Bears, Detroit's offensive core is imperative to keep such momentum and consistency going.
Williams and St. Brown will play a part in that, as will tight end Sam LaPorta and the backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa also flashed potential for carving out a role, though Detroit won't need to rush him alongside two well-paid wideouts.
As for Williams' fellow first-round draftee from 2022, star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is not expected to come to an agreement on a new deal prior to the start of Detroit's season, per Rapoport.
Rapoport added that negotiations between the sides have been professional and amicable, but that nothing has come to fruition yet.
Detroit has completed extensions during the season before, so the lack of a contract for Hutchinson before the team kicks off its NFC North defense does not preclude one from taking place within the coming months.
Contrary to Williams' NFL journey, Hutchinson got off to a roaring start with his hometown Lions.
He logged 9.5 sacks in Year 1 and placed second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting before logging 11.5 sacks on the way to his first Pro Bowl in 2023. His speed bump came last season, amid Williams' best year, as a broken leg ended his season after just five games. Despite limited action, Hutchinson was quite clearly on his way to his best campaign yet -- he led the squad with 7.5 sacks.
The longer timeline makes sense for Hutchinson for a handful of reasons. Although all reports of his post-injury play have been sterling, it would still be comforting for the Lions to see him all the way back on the field, in real regular-season action, as they continue to hash out a deal. Beyond that, Hutchinson is set to make top-of-the-line money at his position.
The edge market has exploded this offseason, with the Raiders' Maxx Crosby, Texans' Danielle Hunter, Browns' Myles Garrett, Steelers' T.J. Watt and Packers' Micah Parsons all taking turns resetting the market. Parsons was the most recent to do so following his trade from the Cowboys to Green Bay, and his $46.5 million average annual salary is a whopping $5.5 million more than Watt's average of $41 million, which is currently the second-highest number.
Hutchinson has an astronomical bar to aim for, and he's every bit deserving of whatever he eventually gets.
For now, though, he settles in for the season ahead under contract for this year and next.
Williams is locked in to a long-term deal, and the Lions will be off and rolling on Sunday against the rival Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET.
