The Los Angeles Rams appear to be firmly focused on contending for a Super Bowl title in the upcoming 2025 season. However, looking beyond this immediate goal, the team faces some potential uncertainties within their roster. A significant question mark revolves around the long-term future of their lead running back, Kyren Williams.
Williams is entering the final year of his initial rookie contract, and should the Rams not secure him with an extension, he is poised to become one of the most sought-after players in the running back market as a free agent in 2026.
What Is The Plan For The Los Angeles Rams At Running Back?
Jeffri Chadiha, a columnist for NFL.com, posed a critical question for each NFL team heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, specifically wondering about Williams’ place in the Rams’ future plans and the potential value of his next contract. Chadiha noted that Rams General Manager Les Snead has publicly expressed the team’s desire to keep Williams in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future.
However, as Chadiha astutely points out, the valuation of running backs who don’t possess the established pedigree of players like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, or Christian McCaffrey often comes down to individual circumstances.
He acknowledges Williams as arguably the league’s most underrated runner, citing his impressive production of 2,443 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns over the past two seasons. The crucial question for both Williams and the Rams is how this production translates into contract value.
While Williams may not command the $20.6 million average annual salary of Barkley’s new deal, Chadiha suggests his value likely falls somewhere in the range of Josh Jacobs’ $12 million annual salary with the Green Bay Packers and Joe Mixon’s $9.875 million with the Houston Texans.
The Rams’ actions during the upcoming NFL Draft could offer insights into their stance on Williams’ future. Should they invest an early draft pick in a running back, it might signal a significant gap in contract negotiations with Williams, potentially indicating a willingness to prioritize youth and cost-effectiveness at the position and allow Williams to explore free agency after the 2025 season.
Conversely, there remains ample time for the Rams and Williams to reach a mutually agreeable long-term contract extension. Given the recent resurgence of effective rushing attacks across the NFL, allowing a player of Williams’ caliber to depart could prove to be a risky proposition for Los Angeles.
Williams earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2023 and further elevated his rushing yardage and touchdown totals in the 2024 season, underscoring his importance to the Rams’ offensive success.
