Analyst points to what's now a far easier Jameson Williams decision for the Lions

After his second season in 2023, it's safe to say the Detroit Lions didn't know what to fully make of Jameson Williams. He left a nice last impression with two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game, and he had generally improved late in the season. But there were still plenty of questions as he went into his third season, with a big decision looming.

Going back to the offseason program, Williams has answered the bell. A two-game performance-enhancing substance suspension was a hiccup, as was a gun incident for which he was not charged. But he has become a better all-around receiver this year, and he has shown better maturity as a man too.

Despite missing those two games due to suspension, Williams had his first 1,000-yard season this year while averaging 17.3 yards per catch (second in the league; first among wide receivers with at least 75 targets).

With the conclusion of the regular season, the window for NFL teams to pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-round picks is now open and goes through May 1. Those same players could also be signed to a longer contract extension in lieu of simply picking up the fifth-year option, like the Lions did with Penei Sewell last April.

NFL analyst outlines easier decision now have with Jameson Williams

Earlier this week, NFL Network analyst Marc Ross took a look at the fifth-year option decisions that are now out there for 2022 first-round picks, with his opinion for each on if they should be exercised or not.

The Lions of course had two first-round picks in 2022 (No. 2 and No. 12 overall), and the first one (Aidan Hutchinson) is a no-brainer to have his fifth-year option picked up. Of course the Lions could do the same thing with him that they did with Sewell, as Ross also hinted.

"Looking ahead to the offseason, presuming Hutchinson's recovery continues on track, the Lions will no doubt make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL, now that he's eligible for an extension. He’s earned it. In the meantime, exercising the fifth-year option is an automatic move to make."

Moving on to Williams, here's what Ross wrote.

"Williams has had his fair share of off-the-field issues (see: gambling and PED suspensions), and his career got off to a slow start while he recovered from a knee injury sustained in college. But the team’s patience and willingness to help him reach his full potential appears to have paid off. The Alabama product has become the dynamic element for the Lions offense that we all envisioned, opening up the field for the rest of his teammates and gaining plenty of yards after the catch. Reaching 1,000 receiving yards in Week 18 was a nice button on the 2024 regular season for Williams."

Ross' answer to the "exercise the option?" question on Williams was of course "yes."

Which brings us to the pertinent follow-up. How much would that fifth-year option cost?

According to Over The Cap's projections, Williams' fifth-year option would cost $15.161 million (fully guaranteed). He does not meet any of the playing time or Pro Bowl selection criteria for escalators, so that is the lowest level ("basic) fifth-year option.

There is a chance the Lions sign Williams to a contract extension this offseason (though surely not to the level of a blind projection like this one). They also have him under contract for two more years, assuming they do pick up the fifth-year option, so there's not a ton of urgency to do an extension.

A year ago or so at this time, it was legitimately possible the Lions would let Williams play out his first four seasons (and not pick up his fifth-year option) before deciding if they'd keep him long-term. He has certainly earned having his fifth-year option exercised, and things are trending toward a longer contract when the time is right.