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Kyren Williams contract extension with Rams a win for both sides
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kyren Williams contract extension with Rams a win for both sides

The Los Angeles Rams have locked up star running back Kyren Williams for the foreseeable future.

As he headed into the final year of his rookie contract, the fifth-round pick (164th overall) from the 2022 NFL Draft was looking to get compensated for the job he’s done, emerging as the workhorse back in L.A. 

On Tuesday, the two sides officially agreed on a three-year, $33 million contract extension with $23 million of it guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, which locks Williams in as a Ram through the 2028-29 campaign. 

"I just started thanking the Lord because, man, it was a feeling I'll never forget," Williams said, per Wyatt Miller of the Rams' official website. When I called my mom, she just said, 'I can't stop crying.' (That) made my eyes ball because I can feel it. I can feel it through the phone. I felt how she felt.

"This whole day is kind of surreal," he said. "I'll never forget this day, but this is the day that I kind of worked for my whole life. I knew I was going to be here. I didn't know when. I didn't know how. I didn't know what the outcome was going to be, but I'm here. And so I just want to say thank you to everybody that played a part in making it happen."

The deal will make Williams the seventh-highest-paid running back in football, with an average annual salary of $11 million. Saquon Barkley ($20.6M), Christian McCaffrey ($19M), Derrick Henry ($15M), Jonathan Taylor ($14M), Alvin Kamara ($12.25M) and Josh Jacobs ($12M) are the only six making more per season at the position. 

Williams has been extremely productive since taking over as the lead back for head coach Sean McVay. The 24-year-old has piled up consecutive seasons with over 1,100 rushing yards (1,144 and 1,299) and double-digit rushing touchdowns (12 and 14). 

He provides explosiveness in the Rams' running game while also being able to get the hard-earned yards in between the tackles. Not to mention Williams' ability as a receiver out of the backfield and nose for the end zone, which has been a huge weapon for the offense. 

This extension feels like the perfect number for both Williams and the Rams. The fifth-rounder has had to work for everything he's gotten at the NFL level and was certainly deserving of a contract to put him among the game's best running backs. 

On the flip side, the Rams get their homegrown star locked up to a deal that very fairly slots him into their salary-cap picture for the future. 

Blake Corum, their third-round pick (83rd overall) in 2024, could see more opportunity next season in a role to spell Williams when needed, which might serve as a positive to keep him fresh throughout the year. With the contract now settled, it all projects to be another productive season for Williams and the Rams offense in 2025-26.

Jackson Weber

Jackson Weber is a sports writer with a BComm in Business and Sport Management from the University of Guelph. While he has focused primarily on NHL coverage in recent years, he brings strong knowledge and passion for the NFL, MLB, and NBA. Following all four major leagues year-round, Jackson delivers honest, opinion-driven stories on the biggest topics in sports

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