Rams running back Kyren Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the team and is looking to extend.
Williams ran for two consecutive 1,140+ yard and 12+ touchdown seasons with Los Angeles, cementing himself as the top running back on the squad.
Rams Wire’s Tyler Greenawalt named Williams as one of five players who are under pressure to perform next season.
“Williams is the entrenched starting running back, but the Rams have two younger players behind him who could push him in training camp, in Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter,” Tyler Greenawalt wrote. “Williams will need to continue to separate himself from the back to maintain his foothold on the position group. He is also in contract negotiations with the team, which adds another layer of pressure to his situation.”
The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish recorded 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season, ranking 7th in overall rushing and 5th in touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus named Williams as the 10th-best running back entering the 2025-26 season.
Possible Contract Extension
GettyLos Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams
With the numbers Kyren Williams has put up the last two seasons, it would make sense for him to get a notable contract extension.
According to Over the Cap, the running back is set to earn a base salary of $5.346 million with the Rams.
Some of the top-earning running backs are in the range of $10-20.6 million, with Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley the top-earning running back in the league.
If Williams were to suffer an injury or were to regress in his fourth season, the high contract he is expecting would be stalled.
“Whether it happens now or I play out the season, I know it’s going to happen eventually,” the running back said in June. “And so, time will tell. I just know I’ve got to do what I need to do each and every single day to make sure that it does happen in my favor.”
Williams reported to the first day of Rams training camp on July 22nd and confirmed that he would participate in camp with negotiations ongoing.
Leading the RB Group
GettyLos Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams
The Rams drafted running back Jarquez in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Already on the roster are Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers.
While it is unlikely for Williams to lose his starting spot, the Rams have other options in the running back group to help develop and fill in case an injury occurs to Williams or he regresses in his fourth season.
“Jarquez was a guy, in addition to some other running backs that we had real appreciation for, there was a vision for how he fit,” Rams head coach Sean McVay, via Sports Illustrated. “I think when you look at the production that he had at Auburn going against the caliber of players that he’s going against, he’s a guy that can hit home runs and so there was a lot to like about him.”
Rams’ fans will get to see the running back group when preseason begins at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 9th.
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