The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a three-year contract with running back Javonte Williams, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The deal is worth $24 million overall, with $16 million guaranteed and a $6 million signing bonus.
Williams, who turns 26 in April, originally entered the league as a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2021. After four seasons in Denver that included a major knee injury in 2022, he signed a one-year, $3 million pact with Dallas last offseason. In his first year wearing the star, the backfield presence delivered exactly what the team needed.
He rushed for 1,201 yards on 252 carries and scored 11 touchdowns, finishing ninth in the NFL in rushing despite missing the final game with a stinger. Williams also caught 35 passes for 137 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
His 1,201 rushing yards marked the highest total by a Dallas running back since Ezekiel Elliott’s 1,357 in 2019. The performance earned him this new multi-year commitment and cemented his role as the clear lead back moving forward.
This agreement keeps a proven producer in the fold and lets Dallas pivot to other roster priorities ahead of the March 3 franchise-tag deadline. The club could apply the tag to wide receiver George Pickens, who posted career-best numbers in 2025, before working toward a longer extension.
By locking up Williams now, the Cowboys maintain continuity in their offense. The move reflects confidence in Williams’s ability to stay healthy and productive after proving himself in a new environment.
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