On the possibility Jamaal Williams leaves, however unlikely or remote it seems, these 4 free agent running backs are realistic pivot options for the Detroit Lions.
Coming off the best season of his career, and what some will say will stand up as his clear career year, Jamaal Williams is hitting free agency. He has said the expected about wanting to be back, and he has clearly become a team leader/face of the new culture who the Lions would love to keep around.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes spoke at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, and Williams was an automatic topic. Holmes, via Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, said there have been talks and there’s mutual interest between the two sides.
We’re having discussions now currently,” Holmes said. “We had a discussion with all of our upcoming UFAs that were on expiring deals, but there is a mutual interest to hopefully get him back.”
Williams can be re-signed by the Lions at any point. But, as much as Lions fans don’t care to hear about it, he would be doing himself a disservice to not see what else is out there on the open market. If he comes back to the Lions, so be it and that’s fine. But the business reality opens the door to the possibility he leaves. And the Lions should not overpay to keep him based on sentiment, intangible value, etc.
On the chance (slim as it may be) Williams finds a deal on the market the Lions won’t match, or perhaps just closely match if he wants to stay that badly, they have to be prepared to pivot.
In the scenario where Williams is gone, these four free agent running backs are realistic pivot options for the Lions.