Kyren Williams isn’t staging a holdout. He’s not holding in, either.
As the Los Angeles Rams report to training camp this week at Loyola Marymount University, their Pro Bowl running back is on the field, in pads, and fully present—despite ongoing contract negotiations with the team. Williams, entering the final year of his rookie deal, made it clear: he wants a new contract, but he’s not letting that stop him from doing what he loves, even if that means he doesn’t have a contract heading into the 2025 season.
“For me, there was no decision,” Williams said Tuesday. “I play football. That’s what I love. … Being here right now is a no-brainer, because I’ve got people I’ve got to take care of. Putting my feet on the grass is the only way I know how to do that.”
The Rams are set to meet again with Williams’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on Wednesday in an attempt to finalize an extension. While there’s been notable progress since organized team activities, a deal still isn’t done.
“There’s definitely been progress from when we started at OTAs to where we’re at now,” Williams said. “I don’t know when it’s going to get done. For now, it’s just time for me to be present where my feet are at. … I want to play for the Rams. That’s who I want to stay with, and I know it will work out.”
Kyren Williams Says He Will Play This Season On Current Rookie Deal
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Even if it doesn’t work out before the season kicks off, Williams made it clear he’ll continue playing under his current deal. When asked by the LA Times’ Gary Klein, “If a deal doesn’t get done before the season, how does that change things for you?”
“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “My one goal is to keep playing and keep taking care of the people I love. Whether that means playing out my contract or something else, it’s all a blessing. I’m still playing football. I’m still a professional athlete. I’m still doing the things I dreamed about as a kid.”
No Drama, Just Production
Williams’ approach stands in stark contrast to other high-profile running backs who’ve taken hardline stances during contract disputes. There’s no public acrimony, no skipped practices, and no visible tension. Head coach Sean McVay praised Williams for his mindset and leadership.
“(Kyren) has done everything that he can control that makes you want to say, ‘Let’s try in good faith to figure this out for this guy,’” McVay said. “Because he’s representing all the things that are right about the Rams. The way he plays, his spirit, his mindset, what he is as a teammate, how he responds to adversity—it means a lot.”
Williams, 24, was a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2022 and has since become an indispensable part of Sean McVay’s offense. After rushing for over 2,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons, Williams broke out in 2023, leading the NFL with 95.3 rushing yards per game. He followed that up in 2024 with 1,299 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in just 14 games, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
Despite the Rams selecting Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter in the last two drafts, there’s little doubt that Williams is the engine of the backfield—and a key figure in LA’s locker room.
“Seeing the squad that we have, it’s like, yo, from top to bottom … we are stacked,” Williams said. “We’ve got people who are like-minded, people that go to work. People who are playing for each other and not just for themselves.”
The Los Angeles Rams Price Tag
According to Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, Williams could command a deal in the range of three years, $40.5 million with $25.5 million guaranteed, which would place him among the top five highest-paid running backs in the NFL. For a team that may be approaching the post-Matthew Stafford era sooner than later, the Rams could view Williams as a foundational piece—one they can’t afford to let go.
“Kyren is more vital to the Rams’ offense than [James] Cook is to the Bills’ Josh Allen-led offense,” Moton wrote. “Sean McVay can’t rely on Corum or Hunter to carry the load if Williams leaves and Stafford’s production declines.”
Contract Year Mindset
Knowing this could be a contract year, Williams made offseason adjustments to maximize his value. He hired a personal chef, improved his nutrition, and focused on building grip strength after a season in which he fumbled five times in the regular season and once more in the playoffs.
“I wake up every single morning and I’m just full of energy,” he said.
While he’s not naïve about the business side of football, Williams has grounded himself in his love for the game—and the team he grew up rooting for.
“Yeah, I want to play for the Rams. That’s who I want to be with—that’s who I want to stay with,” he said. “I know it’ll work out.”
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