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The Los Angeles Rams’ backfield got a little bit more crowded during the 2025 NFL Draft when the team selected Jarquez Hunter. Not only was the Auburn running back picked in the fourth round, but the Rams moved up 10 spots to secure him at No. 117 overall.
With Kyren Williams locked in as the No. 1 running back and Blake Corum entering his second season as a former third-round pick, taking Hunter when the Rams did was puzzling to some fans. Why take another running back when you already have Williams and Corum, two capable players still on rookie contracts?
Not to mention, the Rams have been in talks with Williams about a contract extension, aiming to keep him in L.A. beyond just the 2025 season. Drafting Hunter doesn’t mean the Rams are certainly moving on from Williams after this season, but it’s also not a good sign for his future in Los Angeles.
Sean McVay even acknowledged last month that the team and Williams are apart on where they believe his value is, which means they have to work toward “bridging that gap.”
“We'll see how far we have to go for that, but he is a very important part of what we want to be moving forward,” McVay said at the annual league meeting.
The Rams have never been afraid to move on from a running back – or a player at any position – if they don’t feel he’s worth paying. They cut ties with Todd Gurley before his long-term extension even kicked in. They also traded Cam Akers in 2023 after he had fallen out of favor. Might Williams be the next running back to be kicked off the carousel in L.A.?
As good as Williams is, and as important as he’s been, it’s hard to say he’s a game-changing talent. Of the 316 carries he had last season, only two of them went for more than 18 yards. Yes, he’s scored 31 total touchdowns in the last two years, but his yards-per-carry average dropped from 5.0 in 2023 to 4.1 in 2024 and he seriously struggled to create big plays.
That’s where Hunter steps in. He had the second-highest explosive run rate of any running back in the 2025 draft class last season, rushing for at least 10 yards on 18.9% of his carries. Obviously, it’s much tougher to break off long runs in the NFL than it is in college, but Williams had just 27 rushes of 10-plus yards on 316 carries last season, an explosive run rate of 8.5%.
None of this means Hunter will immediately be a home run threat in the Rams’ backfield, but he has far more speed (4.44 40-yard dash compared to 4.63 for Williams) and can run away from defenders – something Williams has struggled to do.
In no way is Hunter a 1-for-1 replacement for Williams. They’re very different running backs. However, the Rams drafted Corum because he’s so similar to Williams. That could actually work against Williams as he aims to earn an extension with the Rams.
There’s a world where the Rams move on from Williams in 2026 and elevate Corum and Hunter into a co-starting role. A lot of teams have moved to one-two punches at running back, from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.
Corum and Hunter are a better thunder-and-lightning tandem than Williams and Corum are, providing different skill sets and abilities on offense. So while Hunter won’t become a starter right away or threaten Williams’ role in 2025, he could absolutely impact how hard the Rams push to re-sign Williams.
If Kyren is asking for too much money, the Rams may not have a problem letting him walk and going with the younger combination in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: How does Jarquez Hunter impact Kyren Williams deal?
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With Kyren Williams locked in as the No. 1 running back and Blake Corum entering his second season as a former third-round pick, taking Hunter when the Rams did was puzzling to some fans. Why take another running back when you already have Williams and Corum, two capable players still on rookie contracts?
Not to mention, the Rams have been in talks with Williams about a contract extension, aiming to keep him in L.A. beyond just the 2025 season. Drafting Hunter doesn’t mean the Rams are certainly moving on from Williams after this season, but it’s also not a good sign for his future in Los Angeles.
Sean McVay even acknowledged last month that the team and Williams are apart on where they believe his value is, which means they have to work toward “bridging that gap.”
“We'll see how far we have to go for that, but he is a very important part of what we want to be moving forward,” McVay said at the annual league meeting.
The Rams have never been afraid to move on from a running back – or a player at any position – if they don’t feel he’s worth paying. They cut ties with Todd Gurley before his long-term extension even kicked in. They also traded Cam Akers in 2023 after he had fallen out of favor. Might Williams be the next running back to be kicked off the carousel in L.A.?
As good as Williams is, and as important as he’s been, it’s hard to say he’s a game-changing talent. Of the 316 carries he had last season, only two of them went for more than 18 yards. Yes, he’s scored 31 total touchdowns in the last two years, but his yards-per-carry average dropped from 5.0 in 2023 to 4.1 in 2024 and he seriously struggled to create big plays.
That’s where Hunter steps in. He had the second-highest explosive run rate of any running back in the 2025 draft class last season, rushing for at least 10 yards on 18.9% of his carries. Obviously, it’s much tougher to break off long runs in the NFL than it is in college, but Williams had just 27 rushes of 10-plus yards on 316 carries last season, an explosive run rate of 8.5%.
None of this means Hunter will immediately be a home run threat in the Rams’ backfield, but he has far more speed (4.44 40-yard dash compared to 4.63 for Williams) and can run away from defenders – something Williams has struggled to do.
In no way is Hunter a 1-for-1 replacement for Williams. They’re very different running backs. However, the Rams drafted Corum because he’s so similar to Williams. That could actually work against Williams as he aims to earn an extension with the Rams.
There’s a world where the Rams move on from Williams in 2026 and elevate Corum and Hunter into a co-starting role. A lot of teams have moved to one-two punches at running back, from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.
Corum and Hunter are a better thunder-and-lightning tandem than Williams and Corum are, providing different skill sets and abilities on offense. So while Hunter won’t become a starter right away or threaten Williams’ role in 2025, he could absolutely impact how hard the Rams push to re-sign Williams.
If Kyren is asking for too much money, the Rams may not have a problem letting him walk and going with the younger combination in 2026.
Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and now Threads for more coverage!
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: How does Jarquez Hunter impact Kyren Williams deal?
Continue reading...
