In a move that’s likely not the last this offseason for the Dallas backfield, the Cowboys have agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with former Broncos running back Javonte Williams, NFL Network reports.
A 2021 second-round pick, Williams has played his entire four-season career in Denver. He tallied 859 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage while averaging 3.7 yards per carry in a reduced role in a committee backfield in 2024.
The signing of Williams is almost certainly not the last move the Cowboys will make to upgrade a running game that ranked 27th in total yards last season. Leading rusher Rico Dowdle (1,079 yards on 4.6 yards per carry) is a pending free agent and could go to another team. Even if he re-signs, the Cowboys could look to add a difference-maker in the backfield.
The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing season that started with Super Bowl hopes and ended out of the playoffs with a 7-10 record. The result was the dismissal of head coach Mike McCarthy in favor of Brian Schottenheimer, who was promoted from his role as Cowboys offensive coordinator.
One of Schottenheimer’s primary tasks will be to improve the Cowboys’ running game and open up more opportunities for a passing game featuring high-priced veterans Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Doing so will require more than signing Williams.
The most enticing option could be through the draft, where the Cowboys will select 12th overall. Ashton Jeanty, an electric running back who led the nation with 2,601 yards at Boise State and was a Heisman Trophy finalist, would be hard to pass up if available when the Cowboys pick.
