AUGUST 13: Williams secured $15.15MM at signing, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. This includes $2.75MM of Williams’ 2026 base salary ($5.5MM). On Day 3 of the 2026 league year, the rest of Williams’ 2026 base shifts to a full guarantee.
Two days later next March, Williams will see part of his 2027 base salary lock in. The Rams RB will see $4.61MM of his $8.95MM base salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’26 league year, Florio adds. The remaining 2027 salary will become guaranteed on Day 5 of the ’27 league year. This year-out guarantee may have helped James Cook, who secured a similar term from the Bills today. Williams’ $10.45MM 2028 base is nonguaranteed.
AUGUST 5: The long-awaited extension between Kyren Williams and the Rams has been worked out. A deal was struck Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
This will be a three-year, $33MM pact, Schefter adds. $23MM in guarantees are present in the agreement. Williams was entering the final year of his rookie contract, but today’s news means he will be on the books through the 2028 campaign.
Signs have consistently pointed to a pact being worked out in this case, and an update from last week indicated an agreement was close. Today’s news thus comes as no surprise, nor do the terms of the pact. Williams was not a candidate to reset the running back market, although he has managed to land a rare eight-figure AAV at the position. The 24-year-old’s $11MM mark checks in at seventh amongst running backs, evenly splitting Aaron Jones and Josh Jacobs in terms of annual average value.
Williams participated in spring practices as well as training camp while negotiations took place. The former fifth-rounder said in May he anticipated remaining with Los Angeles beyond the 2025 season regardless of when a new deal was struck. With plenty of time to spare, his long-term future has now been assured. Williams will be expected to reprise his role as lead running back for the coming campaign but also years to come.
As a rookie, the Notre Dame product saw sparse usage on offense. The past two years have been much different, though, with Williams receiving 260 touches in 2023 and then 350 last season. During his first year atop the depth chart, his 95.3 rushing yards per game led the NFL and resulted in a Pro Bowl nod. Williams managed to increase his overall production – including 16 total touchdowns – in 2024, although his efficiency took a step back. Managing to remain effective while handling a heavy workload moving forward will be key in determining the return on Los Angeles’ investment.
The Rams will continue to rely on receiver Puka Nacua in the passing game this season, and while Cooper Kupp is no longer in the fold Davante Adams is present on two-year free agent pact. Those two will be the focal points of the team’s offense through the air in 2025, quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s fifth season with Los Angeles. Williams will nevertheless maintain a critical role for the unit as well.
Former UDFA Ronnie Rivers, 2024 third-round selection Blake Corum and fourth-round rookie Jarquez Hunter represent the Rams’ other options in the backfield. That trio will provide the team with young and inexpensive backups at the RB spot while Williams plays out this new accord. As Los Angeles eyes a repeat of last year’s run to the divisional round of the postseason – at least – a major piece of offseason business has been taken care of.
This is prolly the blueprint for James Cook to get his contract settled.
Agree. Based on production, Williams should receive more than Cook (someone please tell his agent).
I’d be willing to pay a bit more for guys that don’t mind freezing in those winter blizzards that frequent Buffalo.
So what cook gets 9.5 or 10? Maybe 10.5?
Gonna have to disagree.
Williams is a surprise star RB as a fifth round pick and is on a team that if we’re honest are likely playoff contenders.
Cook is a second round pick who was destined to take over RB1 duties once they moved on from Singletary and on a team that have been considered among the SB favorites the past few years. A team that desperately needs a strong run game to avoid being completely one-dimensional.
Are you suggesting the Bills wouldn’t be playoff contenders without Cook? He’s the best RB on the team, but there’s a strong supporting cast of runners, including Ray Davis, Ty Johnson and Frank Gore Jr. Not to mention a pretty decent running QB.
Such a dumb move but fun for their fans.
How is it dumb? It’s a three year deal for a young RB who is among the best in the game.
Signing a RB past their rookie deal is ill advised. Dude was cheap as can be and productive. By 2026 they’ll be trying to replace him with a 3rd round pick.
No, thinking like yours is ill-advised.
Pretending you can replace genuinely good RBs that easily is delusional. He’s giving them 1st round pick production.
Nah thinking like mine is how you run a successful team. Why not take that top 10 production at undrafted league minimum for another year? Dude already has an injury history. Take advantage while you have it. If you love him that much then tag him. Like I said, fun for fans, terrible for logistics.
I am happy for Williams and hope Cook gets a similar deal. Stafford has to be happy as well and they can keep the offense more balanced.
Rams do solid business I have to respect it. Kuren is tied for seventh paid back and he’s super reliable and young too. Good deal imo
That 2023 season is still one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen.
1,100+ rushing yards in only ten or eleven games!
Crazy right!
Really happy for Kyren, and if we’re honest LA made a great deal here to keep it at 3 years and 11 million a year. If the salary cap explodes again, that deal will look like a bargain in a few years.
Really hope now that he’s secure and locked in over the next few years, they’ll ease his workload by giving Corum a lot more touches and maybe even Hunter.