As the May 1 deadline to pick up his fifth-year option looms, there have been some big picture questions about Jameson Williams' future with the Detroit Lions. In simple terms, they have time to figure out a contract extension with the assumption they'll pick up that option.
The idea of the Lions trading Williams has felt far-fetched. A pre-draft visit with a projected first round wide receiver landed added some intrigue, and fueled some ire toward a certain Lions writer for daring to suggest Williams could be traded during the draft.
On Monday, heading into the draft, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated named Williams as a potential trade candidate in two different contexts. In the context of the Lions' draft needs, Breer's report was direct.
"Receiver’s another spot to consider—with a fifth-year option decision coming on Jameson Williams, and some in NFL circles believing he could be traded."
Because it's what athletes do these days, Williams posted on Instagram and drew attention for a message that said "Loyalty b4 any n everything." Internet detectives have also noted he has unfollowed the Lions on IG, if he even followed the team on any social media in the first place.
The Lions trading Williams has shifted from very unlikely to noted as possible by a plugged-in NFL insider. If the Lions are looking to move him, and it is a fairly sizeable 'if', these teams may be atop the list of suitors.
5 teams who could make the Lions a good trade offer for Jameson Williams
5. Arizona Cardinals
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is lined up to have a better second season, and Trey McBride is a top-tier tight end. Outside of them, the Cardinals are lacking for weapons in the passing game that strike any fear into opposing defenses. If Kyler Murray is ever going to push into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, they need to rectify that ASAP and Williams looks like a nice fit.
4. New York Jets
The Jets have a legit No. 1 wide receiver in Garrett Wilson, but after him the depth chart is pretty deprived of talent (Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson). Justin Fields has limits as a passer, but if they're hoping to get the most out of him they need a No. 2 receiver who is a viable threat. Williams is that.
Let's not forget the ties Williams has to the Jets' coaching staff. Former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is of course the head coach there, with former Lions' passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand as the offensive coordinator. They have three other fifth-year options on 2022 first-round picks to decide on, including Wilson, and they plan to pick up all three. It's unclear how that might factor into their desire to trade for Williams, with his fifth-year option salary ($15.an inherent cost of acquiring him.
Wilson and Williams were in the same recruiting class at Ohio State (2019), and they both played with Fields there. There are a lot of Jets' ties for Williams, and it's fair to assume they have interest if he's available.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
Wide receiver sits as a significant need for the Raiders heading into the draft, with Jakobi Meyers a fine player and question marks after him. They are also in something of a win-now mode with Pete Carroll as head coach, so a move to add a non-rookie receiver is possibly on the radar.
Geno Smith is a capable deep-ball thrower, and the Raiders top two weapons in the passing game (Brock Bowers and Meyers) operate in the middle of the field. So Williams looks like an ideal complement to those guys, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly should see a lot to like.
Levi Dombro of Just Blog Baby has offered the following trade proposal from the Raiders for Williams.
The Lions don't currently have a 2025 fifth-round pick, so they'd have to acquire one to fulfill this trade proposal. The third-round pick they'd get from the Raiders would be No. 68 overall.
Giving up a pick in a deal for Williams and only getting one pick back is less than ideal for the Lions. But the Raiders stand to be a team who has significant interest to match how significant their need at wide receiver is.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers lost Josh Palmer, and his fourth-highest average depth of target last season (minimum 50 targets, according to Sports Info Solutions), in free agency. They struck out on some other notable attempts to add a wide receiver (Davante Adams, DK Metcalf), and bringing Mike Williams back was not a sufficient move to fill their wide receiver void.
Williams looks like a great fit for the Chargers, as a perfect compliment to Ladd McConkey. The fifth-year option dynamic stands to play into any interest they have, or any other team has, but that option also allows time to assess Williams' place in the future.
Williams' speed has not always been a great match with what Jared Goff does best. Justin Herbert's arm strength could unleash him in ways he has not yet been unleashed, and the "no block, no rock" mentality he'll bring from Detroit screams a fit for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are the mix to add a wide receiver in the draft, perhaps with the 12th overall pick. But it's safe to say they might like to add a more proven commodity, and on Tuesday the ever-loquacious Jerry Jones teased that "two pretty substantive trades" that could happen "before or after" the draft are being looked at. A rumor about a deal for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was quickly refuted as "fake news."
Jones likes to try to make big splashes, even if they're mostly imagined in his head as big splashes, and the Cowboys need a wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb. Williams would be a nice addition, and the Lions might be able to fleece Jones in a trade.
Other teams who could make the Lions an offer for Jameson Williams: Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints
