The Detroit Lions sported one of the best offenses in the NFL last season and wide receiver Jameson Williams played a massive role in that.
Following two disappointing seasons to begin his career, Williams finally broke out in 2024, with the Alabama product and former first-round pick tallying career-highs with 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and eight total touchdowns (seven receiving)
In 2025, the Lions have a big decision to make, as the team must decide whether or not to pick up Williams' fifth-year option, which is slated to be worth $15.4 million. That figures to be a no-brainer after the season he just had, but the Lions may be hesitant to make that commitment.
On top of having some financial constraints due to recent and upcoming contract extensions with key players, Detroit may not totally trust Williams. After all, the wideout has been suspended twice and had a run-in with police last year that ultimately did not lead to charges.
As we inch closer to the draft, trade rumors are swirling around Williams. First, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer revealed that people around the league think the Lions could trade him. Then, Williams made a few cryptic posts to Instagram and may have unfollowed the team, which only added fuel to the fire he could be dealt.
In the wake of all that drama, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports laid out some possible landing spots for Williams if he's traded, and the one that was undoubtedly the most surprising was the Chicago Bears, who now sport Williams' former play-caller, Ben Johnson, as their head coach.
This makes a ton of sense except for the fact that the Lions and Bears share a division, so it's hard to envision Detroit trading anyone -- much less a talented wideout like Williams -- to a division rival. But if the Lions were willing to do this, there aren't many teams that make more sense for Williams than Chicago.
Williams' old offensive coordinator is new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who clearly knows how to utilize Williams' strengths. The Bears did make some additions to their receivers room via free agency (most notably signing former Commanders slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus), but they could use more reinforcements in an effort to bring out the best in second-year QB Caleb Williams.
From a needs standpoint, this trade would make sense for Chicago. The Bears have not re-signed Keenan Allen and currently have Olamide Zaccheaus penciled in as the third receiver. That's simply not good enough if the Bears want to put Caleb Williams in the best possible position to succeed.
Williams would instantly take over the boundary spot across from Rome Odunze and give the Bears a lethal trio with DJ Moore, also. He would also added a much-needed deep threat to the offense, giving the Bears several ways to attack defenses.
The issue, of course, is that the Lions are never going to trade Williams to one of their NFC North rivals. It would take a Godfather-style offer for the Lions to pick up the phone, and even then that might not be enough.
Ultimately, we don't think the Lions will trade Williams to anyone. He's far too important to the offense and team's Super Bowl chances and replacing him at this point in the offseason would be impossible to do, barring the Lions hitting a home run on a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL draft.
