RB Kyren Williams signs three-year, $33 million contract extension with Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are locking in one of their offensive centerpieces for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team has agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract extension with Kyren Williams, which includes a hefty $23 million in guaranteed money. The new deal places him as the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL — a clear nod to his growing stature in the league.

It's a well-deserved payday for the All-Pro back, who became the engine of LA’s offense last season. Williams handled a league-leading 43% of the Rams' total offensive touches, a testament to how heavily the team leaned on him. He finished the year with a career-best 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while also chipping in 34 receptions and two scores through the air.

Drafted in the fifth round in 2022, Williams took over the starting role in Year 2 and never looked back. He topped the league in rushing yards per game (95.3) in 2023 and earned his first Pro Bowl nod as a result. That breakout season was merely the prelude — his 2024 campaign was even more impressive.

Since the start of the 2023 season, Williams has tallied 26 total touchdowns, tying him for fourth-most in the NFL during that span. Only Jalen Hurts, Derrick Henry, and Josh Allen have found the end zone more often on the ground, putting Williams firmly in elite company.

From mid-round pick to cornerstone playmaker, Williams’ rise has been nothing short of spectacular — and now, the Rams have made sure he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

With Cooper Kupp now gone and Matthew Stafford approaching the twilight of his career, Kyren Williams is poised to become the heart and soul of the Rams’ offense this season.

Stafford has been nursing a back issue throughout training camp, and head coach Sean McVay revealed that the team is taking a cautious approach — limiting his reps to light treadmill work, controlled throwing drills, and walk-throughs as he ramps up for the season.

Despite his age and recent injuries, Stafford still proved capable last year, completing 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just eight picks, good for a 93.7 passer rating. While he can still steer the ship, the Rams are better off leaning into a ground-heavy scheme — and that’s where Williams takes center stage.