The Detroit Lions traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Alabama All-American Jameson Williams with the 12th overall pick.

In his first two seasons, Williams tallied 25 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns, alongside four rushing attempts for 69 yards and one touchdown over 18 regular-season games as a wide receiver.

However, after scoring two touchdowns in the Lions’ 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game for the 2023 season, he broke out in 2024, posting 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 11 rushing attempts for 61 yards and one touchdown. Williams also ran for a 61-yard touchdown during the Lions’ 45-31 defeat to the Washington Commanders in the NFC playoffs on January 18.

Williams still has one season left on his four-year, $17.462 million rookie deal. To retain Williams beyond the 2025 season, Detroit has three options: negotiate a new contract before the current one expires, use the franchise tag in the upcoming offseason, or exercise the fifth-year option.

Each first-round pick’s four-year contract includes a team option for a fifth season, which must be exercised before the player enters their fourth season. The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year options for 2022 NFL Draft first-rounders is May 1.

With the NFL announcing a $279.2 million salary cap for 2025, $23.8 million higher than in 2024, the price for the fifth-year options for 2022 first-round picks was revealed.

If the Lions choose to exercise their option on Williams’ contract, the wide receiver will be guaranteed $15.493 million for the 2026 season. This amount represents the average salary of the third through 25th highest-paid wide receivers over the past five seasons.

The fifth-year options are categorized into four levels, with Williams falling into the least expensive tier. These tiers include:

Players with at least two Pro Bowl selections on the original ballot for the event,
Players with one Pro Bowl selection on the original ballot,
Players who haven’t made the Pro Bowl but have played at least 75% of the offensive or defensive snaps in two seasons, or 50% of the total snaps in three seasons,
Players who haven’t made the Pro Bowl or met the snap-count criteria.