The Los Angeles Rams are meeting with running back Kyren Williams and his agent Drew Rosenhaus to discuss a contract extension, according to a report from Jourdan Rodrigue. The touchpoint will occur in Palm Beach, where all parties are present for the league's annual ownership meetings. Though a deal doesn't appear imminent, now is the appropriate time for discussions to be underway.
The No. 164 overall selection in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Williams is currently scheduled to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025. Rams general manager Les Snead doesn't possess a fifth-year option on his contract, meaning the pending campaign is a true contract season.
Williams has grossly outperformed his rookie contract pay in recent years. In 2024, the former Notre Dame standout finished seventh in rushing yards with 1,299. Williams' 15 rushing touchdowns were tied for fifth. It was an appropriate follow-up to a breakout 2023 season that saw him finish third in rushing yards (1,144).
The running back market was reset this offseason after the Philadelphia Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to an extension just one year into last offseason's three-year contract. Barkley earned that after he was an MVP candidate for a Super Bowl-winning squad in 2024. His new deal tacks on two years at $20.6 million per campaign.
Christian McCaffrey is still the second-highest paid back in the league after signing a two-year extension worth $38 million through the 2027 season last June. McCaffrey earns a hefty $19 million annually. Besides those two contracts, the upper-tier RB market has hovered between $10 and $14 million per year, with recent deals for Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor all falling within that bucket.
Williams' representation should target the upper echelon of this tier by setting designs on becoming the third-highest paid back in the league behind Barkley and McCaffrey. A three-year extension worth $46.5 million would pay Williams $15.5 million per campaign, positioning him well ahead of Taylor's $14 million. From a total value perspective, he'd also own the second-largest deal, behind just Jacobs' $48 million with the Green Bay Packers.
When discussing a potential extension, the Rams' front-office brass admitted an agreement may not be reached until next offseason. Williams' goal should be to find middle ground and sign an extension during training camp. If Williams is forced to play out his rookie contract, he must maintain leverage by stringing together a third consecutive elite campaign.
The Rams selected former Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. That's a premium draft slot for a running back. Corum ended up barely being involved, rushing for just 207 yards via 58 carries. If he takes a developmental step forward as a sophomore in 2025, it could impact Williams' output and leverage.
Williams has developed into a three-down workhorse. The Rams should negotiate an extension with him in good faith. Williams' next contract could exceed $15 million annually, positioning him as an elite earner at the position.
