The Los Angeles Rams are set to initiate preliminary contract extension talks with running back Kyren Williams and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, during the annual league meetings this week, according to Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic. General manager Les Snead has expressed the team’s desire to “engineer a long-term partnership” with Williams, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The 2022 fifth-round pick, after a limited rookie season, emerged as the Rams’ primary rushing threat in 2023.
Since then, Williams has become a focal point of the Rams’ offense. In 2023, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game with 95.3, earning a Pro Bowl selection. While his efficiency dipped in 2024, he still amassed 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, ranking seventh and fifth in the league, respectively. Over the past two seasons, Williams has accumulated 2,443 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, placing him among the NFL’s top three running backs in both categories.
Are The Los Angeles Rams Willing To Make Kyren Williams A Top 3 RB?
Rodrigue reports that the Rams’ valuation of Williams’ extension differs from his potential asking price.
Given Rosenhaus’s reputation for aggressive negotiation, Williams will likely leverage his production and the recent uptick in the running back market during negotiations. Given his league rankings, he might seek a contract with an average annual value (APY) among the top three at his position, potentially exceeding $14 million per year. However, the Rams will be hesitant to meet such demands this offseason.
Just last season, the team opted to trade linebacker Ernest Jones, who was in a similar situation as Williams, rather than extend his contract.
He has only one full season as a starter and has dealt with ankle injuries in his first two years. While he is a capable receiver, with 66 catches in the last two seasons, he doesn’t possess the elite pass-catching abilities of some of the league’s highest-paid running backs. Snead has indicated that the Rams are prepared to enter the 2025 season without an extension, but this doesn’t preclude future negotiations.
“If it doesn’t happen this year, it doesn’t mean that Kyren is not going to be a part (of) next year, doesn’t mean that we don’t do something a year from now,” he stated via Rodrigue.
The Rams are expected to closely monitor Williams’ health and performance in 2025 as negotiations continue. His Pro Bowl selection triggered the Proven Performance Escalator, increasing his 2025 salary to $5.35 million per OverTheCap. Combined with his signing bonus proration, his cap hit will be $5.42 million. An extension could potentially reduce this figure by $3.4 million.
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