The Los Angeles Rams have plenty of motivation to offer an extension to standout running back Kyren Williams. Over the past two seasons, he’s been a steady and impactful part of their offense. His strong performances have been key in helping the Rams rebound from slow starts to thrilling finishes in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Williams, along with wide receiver Puka Nacua, has helped maintain the Rams’ reputation for having a potent offense. So, it’s easy to see why fans are so eager to see the team lock him up long-term. With 2025 marking the final year of his rookie deal, the Rams face a decision: either let him hit free agency or work out an extension to keep him in Los Angeles.
Right now, Williams seems optimistic about getting a new deal done
But before getting too excited, it’s worth recalling some recent history.
After their Super Bowl LIII appearance, the Rams handed out several major contracts—only to later regret some of them. Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, and Jared Goff were all released or traded after failing to meet the high expectations of those deals. In hindsight, those costly contracts didn’t always deliver the expected return.
So what about Williams? He doesn’t carry the same injury concerns that Gurley did, and his play has been impressive. Still, it’s important not to overlook the limitations in both the Rams’ offensive approach and in Williams’ own game. There are valid reasons to approach an extension with caution.
This isn’t to say Williams doesn’t deserve a new contract. But in any negotiation, the best deals are those that anticipate various outcomes and include clear solutions that both sides accept. The Rams’ previous high-profile contracts failed to plan for the challenges that eventually arose, forcing them to make tough decisions.
To avoid repeating past mistakes, both the team and Williams should work to ensure any new deal is thorough and balanced—accounting for potential risks while rewarding strong performance.
The devil is in the details
When it comes to NFL contracts, player priorities are pretty straightforward—it’s all about guaranteed money. Regardless of how healthy they are, how many snaps they play, or how many carries a running back gets, players want the assurance of a paycheck. And that’s entirely reasonable. After all, imagine working for a company that stops paying you the moment you get injured on the job.
Football, especially the NFL, comes with a high risk of injury—both in frequency and severity.
From a team’s perspective, however, things look quite different. If a player gets hurt, the team still has to fill that role—often by paying another player—while also continuing to pay the injured one. That means doubling up on costs for a single position.
Naturally, teams want to get the most value from their contracts. Most deals aren’t heavily tied to a player’s role or performance metrics like total yards or yards per carry. Once a player makes the roster, playing time is largely up to the coaching staff.
This brings us to the Rams and their challenge in managing the running back position effectively.
Kyren Williams was leaned on heavily in 2024. As his workload increased, his explosiveness waned, ball security became an issue, and injury risks rose. His overall efficiency declined as evidenced by a noticeable drop in yards per carry.
Here’s how the Rams divided up their 2024 carries, according to Lineups.com:
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Kyren Williams: 888 snaps | 316 carries | 1,299 yards | 14 TDs
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Blake Corum: 119 snaps | 58 carries | 207 yards | 0 TDs
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Ronnie Rivers: 81 snaps | 22 carries | 99 yards | 0 TDs
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Cody Schrader: 2 snaps | 1 carry | 3 yards | 0 TDs
Williams was on the field for nearly 82% of the offensive snaps, an overwhelming share. If the Rams want to lighten his load in 2025, any contract extension should take that shift into account. The coaching staff must also improve how they distribute offensive opportunities.
Compare that to teams like the Lions and Buccaneers, who thrived offensively in 2024 by effectively using a running back committee. The Rams, on the other hand, failed to get meaningful production from Corum and the rest of the backfield.
Now, with Jarquez Hunter and Jordan Waters added to an already crowded room, the question becomes: how much is too much? If you look at the numbers from last season, it could be argued that the roster reached its saturation point the moment Ronnie Rivers was re-signed.
Resources are limited, and the Rams are currently allocating almost 2.5 times more of their cap space to offense than defense, per OverTheCap.com. Should they keep spending so heavily on offense while neglecting defensive needs?
The Rams need to pause and reassess. With Corum, Rivers, Schrader, Hunter, and Waters already in the mix, it’s time to figure out which backs can provide real value—and which investments may not be worth the cost.
If team extends Williams, who is on the short list to make Rams roster?
I’ve made the case for why the Rams should trim down the number of running backs on their 53-man roster heading into the 2025 season. If Los Angeles wants consistent offensive output over a 17-game stretch, they need to better align the roster size of each position group with how often those players are actually used.
The Rams operate with a one-running-back system on offense. Logically, that means three running backs should suffice. However, the current roster lists six. So, who gets cut? Ideally, the preseason would clearly identify breakout talent at the position, but that’s rarely the case.
Players expected to start in 2025 won’t see much, if any, preseason action. Those who do impress in the preseason are usually long shots to make the team. That lack of direct, comparable play makes it hard to assess the depth chart until games begin. Even then, don’t expect drastic roster changes—even if a player looks like a future star in August.
Here’s a breakdown of the six current running backs and their outlook heading into the season:
(6) – Jordan Waters
I’m genuinely intrigued by rookie Jordan Waters’ potential—he’s taller, heavier, and faster than half the running backs on the roster. Still, it feels like he’s the “big back” the team brings in each year who doesn’t quite make the cut. He’s a strong candidate for the practice squad but unlikely to crack the 53-man roster.
(5) – Cody Schrader
The Rams were high on Schrader, enough to claim him off waivers from the 49ers. But after a full season without impact, his chances of sticking around in 2025 look slim. He has a similar build and slightly better speed than Kyren Williams, but with more competition this year, his time might be up. Whatever upside the team saw in 2024 never translated to the field.
(4) – Ronnie Rivers
As the most experienced back behind Kyren Williams, Rivers has familiarity on his side. But he’s also the smallest in the group. The Rams already cut a veteran in Boston Scott last season, so Rivers making the roster isn’t guaranteed. He’s a likely surprise cut—though he could land on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
(3) – Blake Corum
It’s puzzling that Corum wasn’t used more as a rookie, especially since he’s heavier and faster than Williams. Other late-round rookie RBs found success in 2024—why didn’t Corum? Whether it was coaching decisions or his own performance, 2025 needs to be different. He’s a good bet to make the roster but still has something to prove, especially after missing time late last season with injury.
(2) – Jarquez Hunter
Hunter could emerge as a true difference-maker. He’s the fastest back on the team and brings a physical, downhill running style that the Rams could use more of. If he gets touches, he’ll earn a spot. He offers the type of explosiveness this offense has lacked.
(1) – Kyren Williams
Strangely enough, cutting back on Williams’ usage might benefit both him and the team. Targeting around 200–225 carries would allow him to remain fresh and effective throughout the season. Sitting him for a game every few weeks would also open opportunities for Hunter and Corum to contribute. That kind of rotation worked well for other teams—like Detroit (Gibbs/Montgomery) and Tampa Bay (White/Irving)—and it’s time for the Rams to follow suit.
In short, the Rams’ ground game didn’t struggle in 2024 because of Williams’ talent. It struggled because no one else got significant touches. With capable backs behind him, it’s time the Rams start distributing carries more strategically.
Kyren Williams may be preparing for contract talks, but the Rams must rethink how they deploy him. They’ve got weapons—they just need to use them