Lions Need Break-Out Season From Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams must have a breakout 2024 season as he heads into his third year in the NFL. The former top-15 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft has the one attribute coaches love and fear, SPEED! 2024 is a pivotal season in Williams' young career. 

Jameson Williams’ obstacle-filled path

After being drafted, Williams continued his rehab from a torn ACL during the College Football Playoff on Jan. 10, 2022. Hope was high that he would be ready and cleared for Week 1 of the season but the Lions were adamant about bringing him along slowly. Eventually, Williams landed on the Lions’ NFI (non-football injury) list, keeping him out for at least the first four weeks of his rookie season. The time ended up extending past the team’s bye week. 

Williams debuted in Week 13 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he saw a lone target. His next game is where the excitement and imagination of his explosiveness became a reality. Williams was targeted twice in Week 14 versus the Minnesota Vikings, with one going 41 yards for his first career touchdown. Below, he runs free through the Vikings’ secondary and showcases why the Lions were confident in his ability to generate explosive plays.

Fast forward to last offseason and Williams faced another hurdle. He was suspended six games in 2023 for “violating the league’s gambling policy.” This limited his development within the offense without having a full offseason with zero restrictions or issues. 

Picture starting a new job and being unable to complete all the training modules to effectively fit in and do the required tasks at the highest level. This is what it was like for Williams through two offseasons as an NFL wide receiver. 

Through his first 21 games as a pro (including playoffs), Williams has caught 31 passes on 50 targets for 474 yards and four touchdowns. He averages more than 14 yards per reception with an average depth of target of 16.4, displaying his big-play ability. 

Finally, a normal offseason for Jameson Williams

Williams enters year three after two abnormal offseason periods to start his career with a sense of normalcy. He is healthy and the off-field issues are behind him. His sole focus should be tied to football and being the best player for this Lions’ offense in 2024. 

Detroit needs a breakout season from Williams because it will elevate the offense to new heights. Considering their current slate of offensive weapons, a consistent vertical threat for 17-18 weeks creates chaos for opposing defenses. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the NFL and Sam LaPorta is a reliable and talented tight end. The Lions also have a two-headed rush attack of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. If Williams is the explosive playmaker they drafted him to be, this offense could make it past the juggernaut San Francisco 49ers in January.

Conclusion

Williams is and deserves to be an important piece of the Lions' 2024 offensive plans. A big breakout season should not be too much for fans to ask for. Is anyone asking for him to outproduce St. Brown? No. Williams must be the Jordan Addison to St. Brown’s Justin Jefferson. If teams want to take St. Brown out of Jared Goff’s progression with bracket coverages and double teams, Williams should make them pay for it with six points on the board. 

Williams garnering more than 800 yards and double-digit plays over 10-plus yards is a more than reasonable expectation. Williams' impact must be felt consistently throughout the season and not just in spurts like in 2023. If offensive coordinator Ben Johnson can find ways to help this come to fruition, the Lions will be a more dangerous team in 2024.