Report: Javonte Williams, Cowboys Agree to $3M Contract in NFL FA After Broncos Exit

The Dallas Cowboys are adding some depth to the backfield after the unit struggled in 2024.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys are signing Javonte Williams to a one-year, $3 million deal that has a max of $3.5 million with incentives. Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, spent the first four years of his career with the Denver Broncos.

Williams had the best season of his career as a rookie when he rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns. He also hauled in 316 yards and three touchdowns through the air in 2021.

He had a decent start to the 2022 season, picking up 204 rushing yards and 76 receiving yards through four games, but suffered a season-ending torn ACL and LCL in Week 4.

Since returning from injury, Williams has been a solid player in the backfield, collecting a combined 1,287 rushing yards and seven touchdowns along with 574 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air over the past two years.

He was Denver's leading rusher with 513 yards and four touchdowns last year.

According to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys hope Williams can take over for Rico Dowdle, who is a free agent after four seasons in Dallas.

Dowdle had the best season of his career last year, collecting 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards and five total touchdowns. The fifth-year back had previously never recorded more than 500 rushing yards in a season.

Whether Williams will be able to match his production remains to be seen, but the Cowboys are looking to step up their run game after having one of the worst units in the league a year ago.

Despite Dowdle's success, Dallas averaged just 100.3 rushing yards per game, the sixth-lowest mark in the league. The Cowboys and Williams will hope to see better numbers in 2025.