Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes spoke to reporters at the NFL Owner's Meetings in Florida on Monday morning, and he made it clear what would be happening with the decision on wide receiver Jameson Williams' fifth-year option as the deadline looms on May 1.
"Look, it's heading that way that we are most likely going to be doing that," Holmes said, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN. "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."
Williams had a breakthrough season in 2024, topping 1,000 receiving yards and finishing second in the league in yards per catch (17.3). That yards per catch number was the highest among wide receivers with at least 75 targets last season.
Lions will make easy, inevitable decision on Jameson Williams' fifth-year option
As determined by playing time and Pro Bowl accolades per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, we already know the fifth-year option for Williams will cost $15.493 million for 2026. His overall breakthrough last season made the decision to pick up that option far easier than it would've been a year ago. Williams clearly knew he needed to get it together in his third season, and from the start (literally, OTAs) he asserted himself that way.
That said, last season was not without hiccups for Williams. He got a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy, and that was followed closely by news he was involved in a police incident regarding an unregistered gun. He was not charged in relation to the gun incident, but it was obviously not an ideal way to be in the news. And in a broad sense, with information about banned substances (over the counter products that contain them, etc.) presumably not difficult to obtain, a performance-enhancing substance suspension feels easy to avoid.
So there are automatic questions about the Lions making a full, long-term commitment to Williams, and they don't have to rush it all. Holmes also noted a contract extension for Williams within the bigger picture of looming contract extensions that are on the docket.
"In terms of extensions, again, there's a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming, but it's just one that you don't know what's gonna happen from a financial standpoint," Holmes said. "Because a wide receiver is very expensive. Look, these are good problems to have."
So, as expected, the Lions will pick up Williams' fifth-year option sometime over the next month and continue to assess if (or how) they'll make a longer commitment to him as one of their core players.