The Cowboys will keep pending free agent running back Javonte Williams from hitting the open market. The 2 sides have agreed to a three-year, $24MM contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. The deal includes $16MM in guarantees, in line with Adam Schefter of ESPN. Williams will even receive a $6MM signing bonus, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.
Williams’ recent pact easily trumps the one-year, $3MM agreement he reached with the Cowboys in free agency last March. The previous Bronco settled for a prove-it deal after a dip in rushing production over the previous few seasons.
As a 2021 second-round pick from North Carolina, Williams made a rapid impact with 1,219 total yards and 7 touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for 903 yards on 4.4 per carry that yr, but suffering ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 of his second season temporarily threw his profession astray. 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 within the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense. Playing his age-25 season, Williams began in all 16 appearances and logged profession highs in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving). A 3-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 within the offseason, now have him under wraps for reasonable money. Williams’ recent contract places him thirteenth amongst running backs in total money, 14th in guarantees and sixteenth in average annual value. Had Williams grow to be a free agent for the second straight yr, he could have joined Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne among the many top RBs available. With Williams off the board, teams in need of an upgrade within the backfield now have one fewer starting-caliber option to contemplate.
Locking up Williams checks off one necessary offseason task for the Cowboys, who feature arguably the sport’s best soon-to-be free agent in wide receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys are expected to put the franchise tag on Pickens by March 3. The query is whether or not he’ll follow Williams in landing a multiyear deal this offseason.