Sports

The Detroit Lions and wide receiver Jameson Williams have reached an agreement on a three-year extension that could be worth as much as $83 million, according to multiplereports. 

The deal comes with $67 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 

Williams, 24, was going on the fourth year of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option. He's fresh off a breakout 2024 campaign, during which he nearly tripled his previous single-season high in receiving yards. 

The Ohio State-turned-Alabama product eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career while totaling eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games, three more than he played the year before and nine more than he played as a rookie in 2022.

Williams' deal is the latest in a long line of Lions extensions over the last two offseasons. The fourth-year receiver and 2022 No. 12 overall pick joins quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right tackle Penei Sewell, left tackle Taylor Decker, safety Kerby Joseph and defensive tackle Alim McNeill in receiving a long-term commitment from the organization.

Williams finally erupted on the field this past season, but he's had trouble off it since he entered the league. After missing most of his rookie season while healing up from an ACL tear he suffered at Alabama, he was suspended four games in 2023 for violating the NFL's gambling rules. Williams was suspended two more games in 2024 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Although Williams has yet to play a complete 17-game regular season, he's offered the Lions the kind of offensive fireworks they can't ignore.

Williams is best known as a deep threat and gadget player extraordinaire. Last season, he averaged 17.3 yards per reception. He also rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown in the regular season. 

The last game he played, he was zigging and zagging and then somersaulting on a 61-yard trick play touchdown run that, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, actually covered 122.6 yards.

Although that highlight-reel play came in an NFC divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders, it was yet another example of his game-changing speed, which has been on full display since he hauled in his first career reception, a 41-yard touchdown.

Williams swapped out his No. 9 jersey for No. 1 this offseason. He's got a new number on his chest and on his contract, and he's ready to take the top off more defenses in 2025.

Travis Hunter has a chance to become just the fourth NFL player since 1980, and the first since 2012, to start at both wide receiver and cornerback in the same game.

It doesn't look like the Jacksonville Jaguars' two-way standout will accomplish that feat Sunday, though.

The Jaguars are planning on using the rookie as an "every-down" wideout and as a "situational" corner during their regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That said, the Jaguars are expected to play Hunter full-time at both positions in some games this season, per Schefter, who also reported that Jacksonville is poised to keep opponents guessing about Hunter's usage week-to-week.

"We're going to have to figure it out," Jaguars first-year head coach Liam Coen said Friday, via ESPN. "We're going to have to all be flexible. We'll come up with that plan over the next 24 hours in terms like, alright, what are the exact maybe numbers we want to hit on both sides or usage?"

Hunter is currently listed as a starting wide receiver and backup cornerback on the Jaguars' depth chart. 

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter is coming off a prolific final season at Colorado, where he played 753 snaps on offense, 776 on defense and 23 more on special teams in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Along the way, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus he ran for one additional score. At cornerback, he picked off four passes and notably forced a fumble that clinched an overtime victory against Baylor.

Hunter didn't play in the Jaguars' final two preseason games. His absence in the first of those two outings was more notable considering all of the team's starters sat out the finale. He was dealing with an upper-body injury that also prevented him from fully participating in four practices, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.

Logan Bowles via Getty Images

Although Hunter has since worked his way back, Coen wants to be mindful of that speed bump his No. 2 overall pick hit in training camp.

"He did miss some time, and so that's something that we just need to make sure we're aware of and keeping engaged as coaches to make sure that, if he's getting a little lost or doesn't know what he's doing on a few things, well, man, maybe we need to reel it back a little and get him a rest here maybe for a sec," Coen said Friday, via ESPN.

"Whatever it is, we've got to be flexible, but I thought he's done a really nice job of dedicating himself to the plan on both sides of the ball over the last few days and he was flying around pretty good today."

Hunter's first game action came in the preseason opener, during which he recorded 19 total snaps: 11 on offense and another eight on defense.

During camp, Jacksonville eased Hunter into practicing both positions, allowing him time to fully focus on each playbook before he played two ways in the same day.

Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey and Antonio Cromartie all started at both wideout and corner in the same game: Sanders in 1996, Bailey in 2000 and Cromartie in 2012.

It looks like Hunter will have to wait a little longer to join them.