Fresh off his release from the New Orleans Saints this spring, Jamaal Williams is sitting on the open market with a proven track record as a solid goal-line back and decent pass protector. For a Cowboys backfield that’s already dealing with injuries and uncertainty in August, signing Williams could be the kind of smart, under-the-radar move that pays dividends when the games actually start to matter.
Cowboys.com’s Patrik Walker named Williams a top free agent target for Dallas. “A running back signing could be imminent,” Walker wrote on August 8, adding:
“This would be an intriguing option that falls in the realm of ‘kick the tires’ for the Cowboys. Williams was once an NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader (2022) for the Lions, when he exploded for 17 rushing touchdowns to go along with 1,066 rushing yards. Far more of a bruiser than a receiving threat, Williams’ production has fallen mightily since that season, producing only one touchdown last season, and just two total over his last two seasons, both spent with the New Orleans Saints.”
A Look Back at Williams’ Career So Far
Williams’ résumé is straightforward: eight seasons split among Green Bay (2017-20), Detroit (2021-22) and New Orleans (2023-24), with 4,122 career rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns and 187 receptions.
He toggled between RB2 and spot-starter usage in Green Bay before exploding in Detroit in 2022 with 1,066 yards and an NFL-leading 17 rushing touchdowns, breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season franchise TD record along the way.
The New Orleans stint was far less productive, in part because of usage and a hamstring issue early in 2023. Over two seasons he logged 470 rushing yards and two scores for the Saints, including 48 carries for 164 yards and a TD in 2024.
Even if his stats were modest, his traits—north-south decisiveness, ball security, decent check-down option—remain, and he stayed healthy in 2024 after that 2023 IR stint.
Contract-wise, given the RB market and his age (he’s 30), he could be a short-term and very affordable addition.
Should the Dallas Cowboys Sign RB Jamaal Williams?
GettyShould the Dallas Cowboys sign free agent running back Jamaal Williams?
As of early August, Dallas’s RBs room is more than a tad dinged up. There’s Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, rookie Jaydon Blue, seventh-rounder Phil Mafah and Deuce Vaughn on the depth chart, but injuries have already taken their toll. The Cowboys just signed Malik Davis after injuries hit Sanders (knee), Blue (ankle) and Vaughn (hamstring). Bringing in another back to compete makes sense, particularly one who’s healthy and would fit in.
For a team that expects to be playing meaningful football in December, having a veteran who has playoff experience like Williams could also be a plus. And, given the current state of the RBs room in Oxnard, adding a player of his ilk could be a low-risk, high-reward move.
As long as he’s healthy, available and willing to play a complementary role, the Cowboys may want to at least bring him in for a workout to see how much juice he has left.
