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.
You think with all their deficiencies on D that allocating top of the market deal with QB, WR1, WR2 is smart? Honest question… At worst the franchise Pickens
Probably try to address that with the two first round picks (no 2 or 3). Cheap, controllable talent. It will take more than one off-season to fix that defense.
Rational and fair. #1 Jerry has to stick to a plan #2 gotta hit on the picks. Drafting for need is tuff
The Cowboys have needs at DE, LB, CB, FS, SS, and OT. They’ll have plenty of options to choose from without reaching for need.
Well, maybe, maybe not, but whatever deal happens is going to push the hits to the back end of the contract. The NFL is about to renegotiate their TV deals-and seeing what the NBA gets, this actually seems like the best time to do a big move if you’re going to do it. You have a good point, but I think that Dallas actually can do it.
As far as defense goes, the question that I have is how Dallas is going to use their three talented interior linemen efficiently in the new 3-4. They’ll be multiple, sure, but it makes me wonder how often their three best /almost best defenders will be on the field at the same time.
You can’t pay your QB and 2 WR’s top of the market contracts expect to build a decent team around them. Unless you’re the best drafting GM in football
The Cowboys have been pretty good at drafting. It’s the area where they’ve been best. The thing is, whatever deal happens now is going to look great in two years because of the huge increase in the TV contracts that will send the cap up. So, I think that Dallas could get away with it this year. I think that it’s an exception.
Congrats. Well deserved
Awesome news for a kid who finally looked like his old dominant self last year!
And really it’s a bargain given the quality of back he is and how young he still is.
24 over 3 years seems fair for both sides, especially with how klayton Adam’s utilized him