Javonte Williams has had a breakthrough season with the Dallas Cowboys, currently ranking in the top 10 in rushing yards, touchdowns and carries. That doesn’t mean he’ll be sticking around beyond 2025, though.
Signed in March to a one-year, $3 million deal after four seasons with the Denver Broncos, Williams has been one of the Cowboys’ biggest success stories in 2025. Through 13 games, he has 215 carries for 1,022 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and nine rushing touchdowns, also hauling in 33 passes for 128 yards and two more TDs.
But SB Nation’s Brian Martin thinks Williams “may be playing his last games in a Cowboys uniform over the next month.”
League-wide, the running back market has been squeezed quite a bit in recent years, with many front offices growing weary of investing heavily at a position where production can often be found cheaper in the draft or by committee. Will the Cowboys let Williams walk in 2026? They may not have a choice.
Dallas Has Numerous Big-Money Contracts Currently on the Books & More Likely on the Way
As it stands, Dallas is already doling out significant ducats to several players, including quarterback Dak Prescott, who is on a four-year, $240 million extension, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who is locked in through 2028 on a four-year, $136 million deal.
The Cowboys have also committed major money on the defensive side of the ball, including a four-year, $92 million extension for All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland and a four-year, $80 million deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
On top of that, Dallas appears prepared to pay premium dollars or even use a franchise tag to keep wide receiver George Pickens after his breakout season — and there’s also a potential mega-extension looming for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
“As of right now, Williams’ projected annual salary on an extension is approximately $6.7 million according to spotrac.com,” Martin added. “The Cowboys haven’t spent that kind of money at RB since they used the franchise tag on Tony Pollard and before that the long-term extension they gave Ezekiel Elliott. After those two they went the cheap route with Rico Dowdle in 2024 and Javonte Williams this year.”
More on Why the Dallas Cowboy’s Likely Won’t Re-Sign RB Javonte Williams in 2026
GettyWill the Dallas Cowboys re-sign RB Javonte Williams in 2026?
Williams’ age (he’s 25), coupled with his recent production should make him attractive to other teams when free agency rolls around.
“He’s been one of the more productive running backs this year, which might have pushed his market value out of the range the Cowboys are comfortable spending on the position,” Martin also noted, adding:
“It’s going to be really interesting to see what he accomplishes in the remainder of the season, but whatever it is it likely won’t sway any decision that has to be made about his future in Dallas.”
That doesn’t sound promising, but that’s life in the NFL. It’s not that Williams hasn’t impressed — it’s that Pickens has impressed more. Plus, there’s simply not a lot of money. OTC has the Cowboys ranked last in available salary cap space in 2026 — they’re currently almost $48 million over the league’s spending limit when next year rolls around — and when teams are that far in the red, there’s no escaping some tough decisions. Letting Williams walk will probably be one of those.
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