One of the more underappreciated storylines of the Detroit Lions’ disappointing 2025 season was the continued emergence of wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Williams followed up his breakout 1,001 yard, seven touchdown 2024 season with 65 catches for 1,117 yards and seven scores in 2025. For a receiver whose early Lions career from 2022-23 was beset by recovery from a torn ACL and a gambling suspension, 2025 showed he can truly be a dependable difference-maker in Detroit’s offense week in and week out.
In an article naming each NFC team’s most under-appreciated player, NFL.com’s Tom Blair named Williams as his pick for the Lions.
Blair wrote:
"“Williams was one of just 11 to reach the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past two seasons. And he's almost certainly the only player in NFL history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as the follow-up to a one-catch rookie year and multiple suspensions. Yes, he produced the way he was paid to in 2025. He also proved the Lions can rely on him moving forward, which did not seem like such a sure thing at this point two years ago.”Tom Blair, NFL.com
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As Blair alluded to, 2025 was a big year for Williams not only because he was tabbed to build on his 2024 campaign, but also because of a lucrative three-year, $80 million contract extension he signed before the season.
It was a risk signing Williams to serious long-term money after he had only had one year of sustained production, but the way he played in 2025 should serve as the ultimate justification for the move, even if the Lions missed the playoffs.
Williams was a key part of a passing attack that suddenly had to increase its volume and carry much more of the offensive load in 2025. After the retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and the declines of veteran offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow, the Lions’ estimated points added per rush plummeted from seventh in the NFL in 2024 to just 25th in 2025.
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Despite the ground game’s regression and the midseason replacement of offensive coordinator John Morton, the Lions were still a top-5 scoring and passing offense. Williams’ one-of-a-kind speed and acceleration have plenty to do with that.
Because teams are so determined to not get burned by Williams’ speed, they often allocate extra defenders deep to take away the long ball. This leads to the middle area of the field having less attention, opening it up for the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta (only 9 games played in 2025) to feast, in addition to lighter boxes for the run game.
Williams’ own intermediate route running and after-the-catch skills also dramatically improved in 2025, exemplified by his games against the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
His speed is truly the ingredient that unlocks the rest of the Lions’ offense. If Williams can have another healthy season in 2026 and the Lions’ offensive line investments work out, he should be even more productive— and appreciated.
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