The Los Angeles Rams are in Maui for minicamp, offering head coach Sean McVay an opportunity to broach several lingering matters, including the contract status of Pro Bowl running back Kyren Williams.
He is in the final year of his four-year, $3.9 million contract.
McVay said there had been plenty of “back and forth” between the Rams and Williams’ camp. He is hopeful they are closer to a resolution, but said the two sides are “really in the same boat.”
“Behind the scenes, I think there’s been really good dialogue from Drew [Rosenhaus], really good dialogue from Kyren, and just his group overall. He’s done everything in his power to show up, be that pro, that leader – everything that we’ve asked. And so, we’re trying to be able to solve that. And if we’re able to land that, we’ll be excited about that,” McVay told reporters on June 17. “There has been progress in terms of getting closer to what the end goal is, and that’s to be able to get him under contract.”
“Now, whether that occurs or not, we’ll see,” McVay said. “We’ll take that a day at a time and a conversation at a time.”
Williams is entering his fourth season with the franchise. He set career-highs with 316 carries for 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns during the 2024 regular season. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023, leading the league with 95.3 rushing yards per game.
The Rams have added to their running back room around Williams this offseason.
Kyren Williams Embracing Leadership Amid New Challenger
GettyKyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams high fives fans following the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Williams is part of a talented Rams backfield that got deeper this offseason. Already sharing some of his workload with second-year back Blake Corum, an undrafted free agent in 2022, among others.
His greatest challenge could come from rookie fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter, the No. 117 overall pick of the 2024 draft.
Williams said he is ready to mentor Hunter.
“I’m always excited for new teammates, new people to go work with, people to grind with and compete with,” Williams told RG.org’s DJ Siddiqi in an interview published in May. “I’m excited for when those guys do come and get to work with them.”
“I’ve been in the league since I was 21 years old,” Williams told Siddiqi. “Being able to be surrounded by the type of vets that I was surrounded by earlier in my career, it makes it easier. It makes it exciting to be a young leader, I can take these guys underneath my wings and show them the way.”
Rams GM Gives Ample Runway for Kyren Williams Contract Extension
GettyKyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams have $21.9 million in cap space as of June 18, per Over The Cap. Rams general manager Les Snead did not suggest there was much urgency on the team’s behalf, though not as an indication of Williams’ future.
“Kyren’s a great human, we all want this to work out, it’s just, can we agree upon a contract where we both feel like (it) is a win-win moving forward,” Snead said, per TheRams.com’s Stu Jackson in March. “And if it doesn’t happen this year, it doesn’t mean that Kyren’s not going to be a part (of the Rams) next year. It doesn’t mean we don’t do something a year from now.”
This season is big for Williams and the Rams amid their Super Bowl aspirations.
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