Jameson Williams responds to perception he was unhappy to be drafted by Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions showed a lot of faith in former Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, trading up from No. 32 overall to No. 12 in the 2022 NFL Draft to bring him in. Detroit traded the 32nd, 34th, and 66th overall picks to select him.

After seeing his reaction after being drafted by the Lions on draft night, some speculated that it looked like Williams was less than thrilled with his landing spot. But Williams has quickly put that idea to rest.

Williams said that he was just tired on draft night, and he is excited to get things going with the Lions as a rookie this season.

“I’m looking forward to it, for real. Football, it’s what I do,” Williams said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “They traded up for a reason, trusted me and my playmaking ability. We gonna put everything together after my rehab and we’re gonna show the world.”

Williams brings a big-play threat to Detroit, adding a dynamic offensive weapon to the Lions offense. In his lone season at Alabama, Williams totaled 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 19.9 yards per reception. He suffered a torn ACL in the National Championship Game, but once he is able to return to the field in full health, Williams expects to make an impact right away.

The Lions moving up for Williams meant a lot to the wideout

In Detroit, Williams is likely to see a major role as soon as he is able to see the field. Amon-Ra St. Brown was the Lions leading receiver last season, while tight end T.J. Hockenson plays a big role in the passing offense as well. When the Lions moved up to select Williams, it showed him that the team has faith in him, which meant a lot.

“It meant a lot, showing that they had faith in me, trust and everything,” Williams said in his introductory press conference. “We talked a bit earlier and we had an understanding that when I get back we’re going to get going.”

Williams hopes to return to on-field work by the start of training camp, even though he’s only a few months removed from surgery.