4 realistic pivot options for Detroit Lions if Jamaal Williams leaves in free agency

2. D’Onta Foreman

After the Panthers traded Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers before last season’s deadline, Foreman stepped up with 877 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry) over the final 11 games. He had a similar run with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 when Derrick Henry missed time, with 482 yards over the final six games of that season–with three 100-yard games filling in for Henry.

Foreman is a bigger back (6-foot-1, 236 pounds) in more of an old school-style, with very limited production as a pass catcher in his career but sneaky speed. College football fans may remember his 2,000-yard season at Texas in 2016, when he won the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in the country.

But Foreman has never had a big role over a full season in the NFL, only the teaser samples we’ve seen over parts of the last two seasons on two different teams when circumstances thrust him into a lead role. He’s still only 26 (27 in April though), with just 443 career carries.

The Lions have an ideal circumstance for Foreman if there’s the opportunity, or more specifically the need on the team’s end. They’d pair him with a back like D’Andre Swift, as he’d become the replacement to Williams in the backfield mix. The Lions also got a close look at him in Week 16 last season, for what its worth, when the Panthers dominated their defense on the ground.

Foreman running behind the Lions’ top-notch offensive line is an intriguing possibility. If Williams leaves for another team of course.