The Detroit Lions have been the subject of nonstop offseason rumors regarding their star wide receiver Jameson Williams. Entering his fourth year in Detroit after a breakout 2024 season, Williams’ future has been debated heavily because of the growing price tags for top receivers.

Many believed the Lions might prefer to trade their former first-rounder now rather than commit to a massive extension that could complicate the team’s salary cap situation.

Detroit quieted those rumors — for now — by exercising Williams’ fifth-year option last week. This move gives the team more time to assess the situation over another season and aim to secure a long-term deal with their speedy deep threat in 2026.

In encouraging news for Lions fans, the relationship between Williams and the organization appears positive. MLive’s Kory Woods reported from Game 4 between the Pistons and Knicks that head coach Dan Campbell and Williams exchanged hugs, shared laughs, and posed for photos with Williams’ family. Although Woods didn’t reveal the specifics of their chat, the atmosphere he described sounded very upbeat.

Previously, Lions GM Brad Holmes had sounded uncertain when discussing Williams’ long-term future. He had hinted that the team would pick up the receiver’s fifth-year option and later confirmed that trading Williams was never seriously discussed.

That said, it doesn’t mean the possibility of a trade won’t come up again in the 2026 offseason.

The Lions have already made Kerby Joseph the highest-paid safety in the NFL and will soon need to pay Aidan Hutchinson, likely making him the second-highest-paid pass rusher behind Myles Garrett. Meanwhile, Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and Sam LaPorta are all set to become extension-eligible next offseason.

Though Detroit would ideally retain all of their core players, salary cap limitations could make that impossible. Depending on how the 2025 season unfolds, Williams could still end up as the odd man out on this talented but expensive roster.

At least for now, Williams and Campbell seem ready and excited to team up for another year.