Honoring Javonte Williams three-year, $24 million deal with his top 24 plays with the Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have ensured their backfield remains locked and loaded by re-signing breakout running back Javonte Williams to a new three-year, $24 million contract. The agreement, which includes $16 million in guaranteed money, comes after weeks of front-office speculation regarding the impending free agent. By locking up Williams before the start of the new league year, the Cowboys avoid having to get caught up in a bidding war for the 25-year-old running back had he entered the open market.
Last week, we mentioned the Cowboys should re-sign Williams to keep their rushing attack on point. Williams earned a total of $4 million with incentives last season, and we indicated that his new asking price would double. Right on cue, that’s exactly where his new contract fell.
Williams earned every penny of his new $8 million annual salary during a career-defining 2025 campaign. After joining the Cowboys on a cheap prove-it deal, he shattered expectations by recording career-highs across the board, finishing with 1,201 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and an efficient 4.8 yards per carry. His physical style provided the perfect thunder to the Cowboys’ high-flying passing attack, as he ranked among the league’s best with 3.58 yards after contact per carry and helped Dallas finish with the NFL’s ninth-best rushing offense.
The idea of retaining Williams had been heavily debated. The team has gotten by using cheap running back resources over the past two seasons, first with Rico Dowdle in 2024, and then with Williams last year. There’s a school of thought that the Cowboys could once again try to mitigate their running game cost with a low-cost replacement.
However, the front office thought better of it and opted to keep Williams. While paying a chunk of money for a running back may not be ideal, the Cowboys feel good that they have their guy. He checks off a lot of boxes for what head coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams look for, and he has already demonstrated he fits well in the offense.
Williams is a physical runner, turning short gains into big plays through sheer contact balance. He shows exceptional vision and patience to navigate through the proper running lanes. His agility and impressive jump-cut ability make defenders miss and create new paths for longer runs. He has a nose for the end zone, which was evident by his numerous short-yardage and goal-line successes. He’s a reliable asset in pass protection who’s always willing to throw his body into a would-be blitzer. And his resiliency last year proved that his once-concerning knee injury appears to be a thing of the past.
With Williams locked down, the Cowboys will enter the new year with a rare sense of stability at the running back position. The team can now shift its financial focus to other high-priority stars like wide receiver George Pickens. And while the Cowboys will have to shell out some cash to hang on to these gamble acquisitions from a year ago, at least they can feel good about shoring up their offensive weapons for the remaining peak years of Dak Prescott’s career.
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