The Green Bay Packers will kick off their 2025 NFL season against the Detroit Lions later this afternoon. Over the last four seasons, the Packers are just 1-7 against the Lions, who have won the NFC North in each of the past two years.
Of course, Green Bay’s very recent trade for three-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons has been the talk of the NFL ever since it happened. In addition for trading for him, the Packers also signed the four-time Pro Bowler to a four-year $188 million contract extension, emphatically bursting open their window to compete for and win a Super Bowl.
On the eve of the season opener, though, the Lions made a significant contract extension of their own, one that could mean a couple Packers players’ days in Green Bay might be coming to an end after this year.
The Detroit Lions give wide receiver Jameson Williams a 3-year $83 million extension
Dec 5, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (known by his stage name Flavor Flav) gets his jersey signed by Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Late last night, it was reported that the Lions had given four-year wide receiver Jameson Williams a three-year $83 million contract extension:
Lions and WR Jameson Williams reached agreement on a three-year extension worth up to $83 million, as @Schultz_Report also reported. pic.twitter.com/NHtpWLDibr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2025
The contract, which is valued at just under $28 million a year, does not even make Williams the highest paid wide receiver on his team. That, of course, is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who signed a four-year $120 million contract extension with Detroit last offseason.
The decision to invest in their wide receivers is mirrors what the Cincinnati Bengals have done with their two top wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Green Bay, though, does not typically hand out big-money contracts to wide receivers, and based on how Williams’ fellow 2022 draftees Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs compare to him, there may be some tough farewells for the Packers after the season.
Green Bay Packers wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson have better career numbers than Jameson Williams
Nov 24, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) rushes with the football after catching a pass during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last season, Williams had a better season in terms of production than either Watson or Doubs, recording 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.
That being said, though, Williams has not been as productive as either of Green Bay’s 2022 draftee wide receivers throughout the course of their careers. Due to missing much of his rookie season due to a gambling-related suspension and part of last season due to a suspension for using performance enhancing substances, the Lions star has worse career numbers than either Watson or Doubs.
In his three NFL seasons, Williams has 83 receptions for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Watson has 98 receptions for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Doubs has 147 receptions for 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In fact, of all the players taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, Doubs is tied with Drake London for the most career touchdown passes thus far, and Watson is tied Garrett Wilson for second.
As Williams just got $83 million over three years from Detroit, this is a good indicator of what Watson and Doubs may be looking for when their contracts expire at the end of this season.
And the Packers will not/cannot afford that kind of salary cap hit.
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