Whether or not and when to extend Kyren Williams has been an ongoing discussion for the Los Angeles Rams and Turf Show Times this year, but now is not the right time to do it.
Earlier this year JB gave a nice model in what he’d be looking at the Rams to do if they chose to re-sign the RB, while Blaine gave the tough take that the Rams should avoid the extension this offseason, and I am falling into the Blaine’s camp, unless they can get Williams at an unbelievable price.
JB even recently posted another article wondering if Kyren should be extended at all, so it seems like many of us agree that unfortunately for Williams, it may not be his time to get paid.
In defense of Williams, he has been a great running back for the Rams since the 2023 season as he’s handled the bulk of the load and helped L.A. get to back-to-back postseason appearances. But there is a but, and reason why the Rams would hesitate to pay Williams this offseason.
Saquan Barkley showed L.A. what they don’t have
Saquan Barkley showed exactly what Williams has not been when he dominated L.A. in both games the Rams and Philadelphia Eagles played last year. Barkley not only can handle short-yardage work, he can take any carry to house.
Williams’s longest run at the NFL level is 31 yards.
Barkley’s longest run is a 78-yard touchdown which took place against the Rams in their 2025 playoff game.
One is explosive, and the other isn’t by comparison.
This is Kyren Williams in one play.
Good elusiveness in the backfield. Shows good vision.
Only thing missing is the breakaway speed. A RB with breakaway speed scores here. A stumbling Baun catches him.
Rams have to settle for a FG. pic.twitter.com/hZNqFxt5mN
— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) January 23, 2025
This is not a Kyren Williams is bad article
As Williams enters his fourth NFL season, he has shown that he belongs. He can take the bruising over the course of a full season, he can handle a large workload and stay productive, he’s had success in running, catching and blocking while adapting to Sean McVay’s scheme. He’s very good.
Why would the Rams pay Kyren Williams now?
If Williams hadn’t fumbled against the Eagles in their latest playoff matchup, then who knows? Maybe Williams would’ve gotten his extension.
Instead, what happened is Kyren did fumble on a crucial possession, the Eagles went on to beat the Rams, win the Super Bowl, and then they made Barkley the highest paid running back in NFL history.
Meanwhile, Les Snead has said he hopes to keep Williams, but hasn’t extended him yet as L.A. readies for the NFL Draft. A draft that some say has one of the deepest running back classes we’ve seen in some time.
If this draft is deep at running back, that’s less leverage for Williams
If McVay and Snead have any thought about upgrading the position through the draft, a year after drafting Blake Corum, why pay Williams anything close to the money he has earned from a production standpoint?
If L.A. sees someone this upcoming draft they like, and add said running back, they can still lean on Kyren as Corum and their presumed rookie continue to learn the offense. That seems like a safer strategy at present than paying Wiliams beyond his rookie deal.
The Rams can extend/renegotiate with Williams during the season or even next offseason.
This situation is to be determined and L.A. could do a lot worse than Williams at running back, but if they can upgrade the position and save some money, then that seems business savvy to me.
If the Rams have another strong campaign and want to keep Williams in the fold, they can do that too and or if the team does decide to pay Williams sooner than later, I’ll be happy for him, but as it stands, the Rams don’t need to rush this one.