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The Rams seem eager to get a deal done with Kyren Williams, but they would be better off waiting until 2026.
One of the main storylines for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason is whether or not the team will extend running back Kyren Williams. It’s very clear that head coach Sean McVay values Williams in the offense. At the same time, his lack of explosiveness and ball security issues raise question marks when it comes to an extension. That doesn’t mention that the Rams haven’t extended a running back since being burned by the Todd Gurley contract and the team has selected Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter in each of the last two drafts.
Much has been written about whether or not the Rams should give Kyren Williams an extension. The short version and what I wrote back in February is this,
“Williams is fine and he does a lot of things well. However, it’s fair to question whether or not he’s the all-around running back worth giving an extension to. Williams is a singles hitter and only gets what’s available. He was the only running back last season to get exactly what was expected. His rushing yards over expected per attempt was exactly zero...How much value does Williams add to the current offense and is that worth $12-$14-million?”
This isn’t another thought-piece on whether or not the Rams should extend Kyren Williams. At this point, that feels like I’d be beating a dead horse. We can talk about whether or not the Rams should extend Williams as much as we’d like. At the end of the day, the Rams front office and coaching staff is going to do what it feels is best for the team. It’s very clear that the Rams like Williams and what he adds to the offense. Drafting Hunter signals that they at least understand that they need a player that can complement him better and take some of the load off of his shoulders.
As the offseason progresses, it seems like extending Williams is something that the team is prioritizing. As Sean McVay noted on Tuesday during media availability,
“There’s been a lot of back and forth. There’s been some good proposals on both sides. We are getting closer to hopefully finding a conclusion to this. Now, until that’s actually agreed upon from both sides, we’re really in the same boat. But behind the scenes, there’s been really good dialogue from Kyren and his group overall.”
It’s very possible that by the time training camp comes along that the Rams and Williams agree to terms on a contract extension. Whether or not the Rams opt to extend Williams is beyond discussion at this point. However, there is something to be said about why the Rams are making this a priority and seem set on getting a deal done with one year left on Kyren Williams’ rookie contract
Unlike some other positions, there is no harm in waiting until next offseason to...
