Pride of Detroit
Since he was taken 12th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has been a bit of a polarizing figure. Coming out of the University of Alabama, Williams was widely regarded as the best receiver prospect in the class prior to tearing his ACL in the final game of his college career. And while his first few years in Detroit had their share of speed bumps, Williams would eventually become the player many envisioned when Lions general manager Brad Holmes moved up 20 spots to draft him.
In the fourth iteration of our 2026 season preview series, we will look back at Williams’ 2025 performance, as well as look forward to what the upcoming season might have in store for the now fifth-year pro.
Previous season previews: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Sione Vaki, OT Penei Sewell
Jameson Williams season preview
Expectations heading into 2025
Fresh off of his first 1,000-yard season in the NFL in 2024, many around the team were hoping that production was a sign of things to come for Jamo. As we alluded to above, Williams obviously had some maturing to do during his first two years in the league. We saw glimpses of the potential here and there during the 2023 season that ended in the NFC Championship round, but for one reason or another, the St. Louis native had not yet put it altogether.
After the 2024 season, that all changed in a hurry. There was still plenty to clean up, but Williams was now considered yet another focal point in an offense that has no shortage of playmakers. And while most would argue that All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will remain the lead dog for as long as he is in Detroit, Williams’ performance in 2024 was enough to solidify his status among the Lions’ other elite skill players.
Actual Role in 2025
17 games (17 starts): 992 offensive snaps played (90.3%)
Stats: 65 receptions on 102 targets, 1117 yards, 17.2 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns.
PFF offense grade: 75.6 (30th out of 91 qualifying receivers)
PFF receiving grade: 76.7 (29th)
Just like the Lions’ brass hoped, the team’s longterm patience with Williams’ development paid off for the second conesecutive year. Following the aforementioned breakout season in 2024, Williams followed that up with an equally impressive performance in 2025–improving both his catch and yardage totals. Beyond the counting statistics, his game was more polished as well.
When you turned on the tape from last year, you saw a more confident player who was now fully bought in when it comes to attention to detail. One who was no longer having to think about things like hitting his landmark on a route, or where he was supposed to be if the coverage shifted as the ball was snapped. It was coming naturally because of the on and off field work Williams had been putting in, which in turn allowed him to show off the speed that separates him from so...
