The Detroit Lions took care of one major piece of business before Week 1, handing wide receiver Jameson Williams a three-year extension worth up to $83 million. For Williams, it’s a long-term commitment after his breakout 2024 season. For fellow 2022 first-rounder Aidan Hutchinson, it could mean waiting longer than expected to get his own payday.
Williams’ path to this deal wasn’t straightforward. He lost time early in his career to a college ACL injury and a pair of suspensions, but last year he turned into the big-play weapon Detroit hoped for when they drafted him. He finished with 1,001 yards, seven touchdowns, and became the perfect complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Together, the duo helped power the league’s top-scoring offense.
The Lions already had Williams under contract through 2026 with his rookie option, but locking him up now ensures stability as the team transitions to life without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. With Williams, St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs forming a young offensive core, Detroit’s attack looks built to last.
Detroit locks in its deep threat, but their star pass rusher waits
Hutchinson’s situation is far murkier. He burst onto the scene with 9.5 sacks as a rookie, earned a Pro Bowl in 2023, and was off to an even hotter start last year before a broken leg ended his season after five games. Even so, he still led the team in sacks. The Lions want him around for the long haul, but the exploding edge rusher market has complicated things.
Micah Parsons’ new $46.5 million-per-year deal with Green Bay reset the standard, pushing the number well beyond T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Maxx Crosby. Hutchinson is in that same class of players, and Detroit knows any extension won’t come cheap.
For now, the Lions are betting on Williams’ offensive impact while Hutchinson plays out his current deal. Both are cornerstone talents, but only one has financial security heading into 2025.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- Is Malik Nabers active or inactive for Sunday's game?
- Justin Herbert ready for opportunity against AFC champs
- Banner night vs reboot: Eagles raise a flag while the Cowboys find out who they are
- Travis Kelce expands empire with bold move into sports drinks
- Kate Scott to make NFL broadcast history in Vikings-Steelers clash
- Brittany Mahomes speaks out on lovebirds Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift news
- How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce went from bracelet moment to engagement