The Cowboys will keep pending free agent running back Javonte Williams from hitting the open market. The two sides have agreed to a three-year, $24MM contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. The deal includes $16MM in guarantees, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Williams will also receive a $6MM signing bonus, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.
Williams’ new pact easily trumps the one-year, $3MM agreement he reached with the Cowboys in free agency last March. The former Bronco settled for a prove-it deal after a dip in rushing production over the previous couple of seasons.
As a 2021 second-round pick from North Carolina, Williams made a quick impact with 1,219 total yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for 903 yards on 4.4 per carry that year, but suffering ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 of his second season temporarily threw his career off course. While the 5-foot-10, 220-pounder returned to play in 33 of of 34 games from 2023-24, he averaged a lackluster 3.7 yards per carry on a combined 356 attempts.
The move to Dallas led to a renaissance for Williams, who emerged as a key cog in the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense. Playing his age-25 season, Williams started in all 16 appearances and logged career highs in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving). A three-time 40-catch back in Denver, Williams chipped in 35 more last season, though he averaged just 3.9 yards per grab.
The Cowboys, who identified Williams as a priority free agent early in the offseason, now have him under wraps for reasonable money. Williams’ new contract places him 13th among running backs in total money, 14th in guarantees and 16th in average annual value. Had Williams become a free agent for the second straight year, he could have joined Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker IIIÂ and Travis Etienne among the top RBs available. With Williams off the board, teams in need of an upgrade in the backfield now have one fewer starting-caliber option to consider.
Locking up Williams checks off one important offseason task for the Cowboys, who feature arguably the game’s best soon-to-be free agent in wide receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on Pickens by March 3. The question is whether he’ll follow Williams in landing a multiyear deal this offseason.
Yay 😀 Jerry is the man well it’s actually Javonte here anyway 😂
LFG!!!!!!!!!!! 8 MILLI is perfect! Outstanding job on getting a good deal for both sides.
So it’s basically the same deal D’Andre Swift got two years ago, with a slight bump in guarantees. Hard to argue with that. And it keeps the Cowboys from being tempted to go big game hunting for a back in free agency or the draft when they have much bigger needs and the combination of Klayton Adams and that offensive line should keep them running well without a marquee back.
Good for Williams! From injury, secures a nice guaranteed number that’ll give him a nice nest egg no matter what.
Good signing. A slight gamble, given Williams’ injury past, but definitely worth it in my opinion. I think Williams’ averages have been slightly misleading versus his actual impact-he was great in Dallas, and better than the numbers suggest in Denver. Hopefully Dallas keep the running position balanced so Williams isn’t overexposed carry-wise, but he’s already made is versatile and talented to offer some relief to the passing game.
Now, it’s time to see how the Pickens contract goes….if they can secure a long term deal, the offense should be pretty potent for the foreseeable future.