Javonte Williams has quickly turned his Dallas stint into a long-term home. The Dallas Cowboys and Williams agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension Saturday, including $16 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The team confirmed the deal shortly after the report.
The extension comes just weeks before Williams would have been eligible to test free agency on March 9, following a breakout season that solidified his value in Dallas.
Williams joined the Cowboys last season on a one-year, $3 million “prove-it” deal after a turbulent start to his NFL career with the Denver Broncos. A 2021 second-round pick, Williams showed flashes of potential as a rookie but suffered a knee injury in 2022 that hindered his production for the next two seasons.
In Dallas, he delivered. Over the 2025 season, Williams rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, doubling his career rushing TD total, and averaged a career-high 4.8 yards per carry. He also added 35 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns, proving reliable as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. Combined with his 2023-24 production of 1,287 yards and seven rushing scores, Williams has firmly established himself as a cornerstone of Dallas’ offense.
The Cowboys, who hadn’t enjoyed a balanced offensive attack in several seasons, now lock in a versatile, explosive back for the coming years. At just a few months shy of his 26th birthday, Williams’ $8 million average annual salary also represents solid value, ranking tied for 16th among running backs alongside the Bears’ D’Andre Swift and slightly above former Cowboy Tony Pollard, now with the Titans at $7.3 million per year.
With Williams secured early, Dallas can now focus attention on their other high-profile free agent, wide receiver George Pickens, and how they’ll approach keeping him in the fold.
