Javonte Williams Contract at Top of Cowboys' NFL Free Agency List, Stephen Jones Says

Dallas Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones made it clear Wednesday that the organization wants to re-sign running back Javonte Williams.

According to Abby Jones of DLLS Sports, Jones said the Cowboys want to retain Williams on a multi-year deal, adding, "Javonte is at the top of our list to go out and sign."

Williams signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys last offseason, and he went on to enjoy a career year in Dallas.

Starting each of the 16 games he appeared in for the Cowboys in 2025, Williams rushed for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on 252 carries, while also catching 35 passes for 137 yards and two scores.

Originally a second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2021, Williams spent his first four NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Williams showed immense potential as a rookie, rushing for 903 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and scoring seven total touchdowns, but he largely struggled over the next three campaigns.

His 2022 season was cut short after just four games due to a torn ACL, and in 2023 and 2024, he seemed to lack much of the explosiveness he displayed as a rookie.

Williams rushed for 774 yards on a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry in 2023, and followed that up with 513 yards on 3.7 yards per carry last season.

Those performances prompted the Broncos to move on from Williams by signing J.K. Dobbins in free agency and selecting RJ Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys signed Williams to a modest free-agent contract in hopes that he could recapture some of his past magic and adequately replace Rico Dowdle.

The 25-year-old Williams was more than adequate, as he averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per carry and played a role in the Cowboys ranking second in the NFL in total offense and seventh in scoring offense.

Despite that, Dallas finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

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The Cowboys' struggles were largely due to their defensive deficiencies, though, so it makes sense why they would like to keep the bulk of their offense together.

Since Williams and Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens are both set to become free agents at the conclusion of the season, the Cowboys have their work cut out for them in terms of maintaining offensive continuity.