The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension with running back Javonte Williams, including $16 million guaranteed. This deal secures the 25-year-old ahead of free agency after his breakout 2025 season. Williams rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the team rank ninth in rushing offense.
The Dallas Cowboys moved quickly in their offseason plans by signing running back Javonte Williams to a three-year extension worth $24 million, with $16 million guaranteed, as reported by multiple sources including NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones. The agreement was announced on Saturday, just weeks before the NFL's legal tampering period begins on March 9.
Williams, a former Denver Broncos second-round pick in 2021, joined the Cowboys on a one-year, $3 million prove-it deal ahead of the 2025 season following a period of diminished production in Denver due to a knee injury in 2022. In Dallas, he flourished, rushing for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on 252 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He also contributed 35 receptions for 137 yards and two scores, serving as a reliable target for quarterback Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys' rushing attack ranked ninth in the NFL last season, averaging 125.6 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry with Williams leading the way. His performance marked a significant improvement from his 2023-24 totals of 1,287 rushing yards and seven touchdowns combined.
Williams expressed his affinity for Dallas during the season, stating in mid-December, "I love it here. I love my teammates, I love everybody… You don't always want to just follow money and things like that. You want to go somewhere where you can succeed and be a part of something that's special. I feel like it's very special here."
Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones had prioritized re-signing Williams, saying in early January, "Javonte's at the top of our list to go out and sign. We want to bring him back. We want to sign him to a multiple year deal."
The extension, averaging $8 million annually, places Williams tied for 16th among NFL running backs in salary. With this deal secured, attention now shifts to wide receiver George Pickens, another key free agent who led the team with 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Negotiations with Pickens could intensify at the NFL Combine starting February 23.
