Coming off another impressive season as the Rams' leading running back, Kyren Williams might see a reward come his way in the spring.
Rams general manager Les Snead told reporters Friday that a contract extension for Williams will be discussed this offseason.
"I think that's something that's going to be on the plate," Snead said, via the team's website. "He would be someone that after three years you could begin discussing, let's call it, renegotiating, starting anew. Because I do think Kyren is someone who is a Ram and has a very impactful role for us."
Williams produced a career-high 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024. The third-year RB was a reliable facet of Sean McVay's offense, bringing a tenacious yet shifty running style that generated the second-most first downs (85) among rushers last season.
His season-long presence was also valuable for a Rams team that dealt with multiple injuries on offense, especially early on in the 2024 campaign. Williams played in 16 games (sat out Week 18), averaging nearly 20 carries per contest, and his contributions to a balanced offense helped bring Los Angeles its first NFC West title since its Super Bowl-winning season in 2021.
Williams continued to roll in the playoffs with 76 rushing yards and a receiving TD in the Rams' wild-card win over the Vikings. He went on to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in the Divisional Round, however, lost a crucial fumble in the L.A.'s loss to the Eagles.
Williams, a fifth-round pick in 2022, has one more year left on his rookie contract, which makes him eligible for an extension. The Rams drafted Blake Corum in the third round in 2024, but the team is looking at he and Williams being a featured one-two punch for the Rams' ground attack going forward.
"I think we would probably take the philosophy that you're going to need more than one running back, so we'll always try to keep that room somewhat healthy in terms of depth," Snead said. "Even with Kyren, he's had two great years, but there is a possibility, right, where he needs a partner to take some load off of him. He's probably played more than any running back over the last two years, so that's something to think about."
The Rams haven't extended a RB since Todd Gurley, who's splashy four-year deal ended prematurely following multiple injuries. Williams has proven himself since earning the starting role with consecutive 1,000-yard plus seasons, and we will see if that results in long-term security for the 24-year-old this offseason.
