East Rutherford, N.J. — In his first free-agency period as the Detroit Lions general manager, one of Brad Holmes' first targets was running back Jamaal Williams. A durable, high-energy leader, Holmes figured the young veteran could be a solid backfield complement to D'Andre Swift, in the same fashion Williams operated with Aaron Jones in Green Bay.
But Williams has been so much more, far exceeding the value of the modest two-year, $6 million agreement he signed with the Lions in 2021.
With Swift proving unreliable because of multiple injury issues, Williams has entrenched himself as Detroit's lead back.