New ranking proves Lions more than justified for Jameson Williams decision

The Detroit Lions were rumored to have been shopping wide receiver Jameson Williams prior to the NFL Draft. That rumor, which never transpired, was also ended quickly after the Lions both exercised the fifth year option on Williams' contract and with GM Brad Holmes shutting the rumor down as something he hadn't even thought about considering.

It didn't really ever make sense for Detroit to try and part with Williams after he had such a great year alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and within the Lions's offense. While the team didn't reach their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl, he and St. Brown proved that Jared Goff has one of the best wide receiving tandems available in the league to throw to - and, that's sustainable even after the departure of Ben Johnson for the Chicago Bears.

Their prowess together continues to turn analysts' heads as we approach the start of the 2025 season. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin is one of those analysts, who named St. Brown and Williams as the fifth-best WR duo in the NFL.

St.Brown-Williams tandem continues to earn love, even in offseason

Benjamin wrote on the Lions duo that the success of these two playmakers has also helped to keep boosting Goff's stock as a legitimate MVP candidate and top quarterback in the NFL.

"Jared Goff's career resurgence is a testament to both his drive and Detroit's infrastructure, which includes this dazzling duo. St. Brown plays a lot bigger than he is while offering breakaway juice, whereas Williams is a galloping field-stretcher. If the latter can just stay on the field, the fireworks can be immense," said Benjamin in his power rankings.

Read more: Barry Sanders calls it as everyone sees it when it comes to the Lions' RB tandem

The only duos named better than St. Brown and Williams were CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for the Dallas Cowboys, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison with the Minnesota Vikings, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Super Bowl champions DeVonte Smith and A.J. Brown with the Philadelphia Eagles.

It feels a bit rich to already have Pickens and Lamb ahead of a proven puzzle-piece-perfect duo in St. Brown and Williams, but on paper, they are slotted to be one of the best duos on offense in the NFC.

Notably, only the Vikings were the only other NFC North team mentioned by Benjamin, showing that the division has a ways to go before getting on the same playmaking level as either Detroit or Minnesota.

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