Valenti: Jameson Williams May Not Be Part of Lions' Core

The Pro Football Focus top 25 players under 25 years old ranking sparked a recent debate about the state of the Detroit Lions' core.

Five Lions players cracked the list, including Penei Sewell taking the top spot. Others included safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta. One notable emission was wide receiver Jameson Williams, who just turned 24 years old and did not make the list.

Williams is coming off a season in which he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. He has elite speed and an ability to vertically stretch opposing defenses.

However, with his rookie contract up following the 2026 season with the team picking up his fifth-year option, his long-term future with the Lions remains murky.

Detroit sports radio host Mike Valenti pondered whether or not Williams belongs in the higher tier of the Lions' young players. Given the financial restraints of the salary cap, the Lions will be forced to make tough decisions on who to pay and who not to pay over the next several seasons.

With Detroit trading multiple third-round picks to draft Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, Valenti suggested that the team may have already begun spinning the wheels of potentially replacing Williams.

"Is it unfair then to now connect dots? The multiple third-round picks you traded to take TeSlaa, and the fact that Brad Holmes says he's his favorite receiver in the draft. Is this it? Is the writing on the wall for Jamo?" Valenti asked. "Look, you could trigger the fifth-year option, but it's just a question. Have they already replaced Jamo and we're just not paying attention? Look, I think Jamo's gonna have a really good year, but I'm not running to pay everyone all of the time."