It's better to be early than late, as the Detroit Lions are suddenly experiencing firsthand. Their decision to preemptively reward electrifying wide receiver Jameson Williams with a lucrative contract extension continues to behoove them — in more ways than one.
Williams hasn't just lived up to the lofty expectations of the three-year, $80 million raise he got from the Lions last September. The 2022 first-round pick is also proving to be a bargain, thanks to a booming receiver market the club got ahead of. Look no further than the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers, who were behind the curve and quite literally paid the price.
The Packers reportedly inked wideout Christian Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million deal with a $31 million signing bonus (h/t ESPN's Adam Schefter). Suddenly, his $27.625 million average annual value narrowly edges out Williams' $26.66 million rate, which feels like a win for Detroit.
Lions' Jameson Williams gamble makes perfect sense after Packers extend Christian Watson
Unlike the Lions, Green Bay didn't have the luxury of jumping the gun. Watson's durability woes made it difficult to properly evaluate him sooner, which reasonably prompted them to be patient. Nevertheless, That's a nice chunk of change for a player with consistent injury concerns and modest production to date.
Of course, Detroit assumed considerable risk. Making such a hefty commitment to Williams, who has a checkered history, when they did was definitely a leap of faith. He came with a fair share of baggage, including health issues of his own and suspensions for violating the NFL's gambling and performance-enhancing drug policies.
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However, Williams was also coming off his first career 1,000-yard season when he and the Lions reached an agreement on their current pact. The speedster blossomed into one of the league's most dangerous playmakers, especially in space. His 8.3 yards after the catch per reception ranked fifth among 124 wideouts with at least 25 targets in 2024, per Pro Football Focus ($).
Watson hasn't truly broken out quite yet, and availability (or lack thereof) has been a major obstacle. He's shown a solid floor, clearing 600 receiving yards in three of his first four campaigns, and is always a threat to make a long reception. The Packers' top pass-catcher, at least by salary, hasn't demonstrated the upside Williams had when Detroit rolled the dice on him, though.
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