The last year has been one big reality check for Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams.
Williams, a 2021 second round pick by the Denver Broncos, entered the 2024 season projected to land a 3-year free agent contract in the realm of $20 million.
Reality saw Williams struggled to arguably his worst season as a pro — he averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry — and the Broncos didn’t lift a finger to stop him from leaving in free agency, where he signed a 1-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys.
While Williams is the projected starter for the Cowboys, it’s done little to convince the anyone that running back isn’t the weakest position group on the roster or provide Williams with any sense of job security.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put Williams high on his list of recent free agent additions who’s jobs “aren’t safe” in 2025.
“For Williams to hang onto any semblance of a true RB1 role, he may have to showcase the same consistency and explosiveness he showed as a rookie in 2021.” Knox wrote on July 24. “He rushed for 903 yards and 4.4 yards per carry that season and had a solid start (4.3 yards per carry) in 2022 before suffering a torn ACL after four games. Unfortunately, Williams has looked like a completely different running back since the injury, averaging 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024, respectively. If he isn’t closer to his pre-injury form in training camp, he may end up relegated to more of a complementary role.”
Cowboys Lost 1,000 Yard Rusher to NFC South
The Cowboys turned to Williams after they lost 1,000 yard rusher Rico Dowdle on a 1-year, $2.8 million contract to the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks there’s an outside chance Williams might not even make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster.
“Only $1 million of Williams’ $3 million is guaranteed, so there’s a slim-but-plausible chance he doesn’t even make the active roster in Week 1,” Barnwell wrote on June 3. “I would say it’s likely Williams gets there, but that we see him strictly in a rotational role. He’s not likely to reach (Rico) Dowdle’s heights in workload or production.”
Dallas Drafted 2 Running Backs in 2025
To make matters worse for Williams, the Cowboys drafted 2 running back in 2025, taking Jaydon Blue in the fifth round (No. 149 overall) and Phil Mafah in the seventh round (No. 239 overall).
Dallas even signed another free agent running back, Miles Sanders, to a 1-year, $1.3 million contract and he’s currently listed at No. 2 on the depth chart behind Williams.
The Cowboys are loading up at running back because it will play such a critical role in their offense in 2025 — if they can’t establish an effective running game it will handicap what should be a top notch passing game with quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson.
However, if the Cowboys can’t establish the run, teams won’t respect the play action pass and won’t even bother to load the box.
If they can establish the run game … sky’s the limit.
“George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb on the field at the same time is a nightmare,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on a recent episode of The Mina Kimes Show.
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