After a career-best season in 2025, Williams, who is a free agent, isn't going to have a shortage of suitors.
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams didn't have many suitors last offseason, coming off a down season in 2024 with the Denver Broncos.
Fast forward to now, and Williams has just rattled off a 1, 201-yard, 11-TD season. easily the best of his career. That list might be a little longer now.
The Cowboys' offense, which was one of the better units in football, finally had a viable run game. And what that did to the passing attack for Dak Prescott was clear to see.
Williams signed a one-year, $3 million deal last offseason. A "prove-it" deal if we've ever seen one.
But now? Yeah, Williams has deserved a pay raise.
That brings us to a question that the Cowboys have to ask themselves over the next couple of weeks.
How important is it to re-sign Javonte?
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones has stated the franchise wants to re-sign Williams to a multi-year deal. That's what we want to hear.
The question is money. But again, the Cowboys appear to be just fine with offering Javonte more, and the fact that a multi-year deal is in the works proves his value.
The Cowboys and the run game haven't been a good duo in recent times, with 2024 being tough sledding: Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle had Dallas ranked 27th in rushing offense (100.3 yards per game).
In 2025, with Javonte? Dallas ranked ninth in rushing offense (125.6 yards per game).
What that did to the Cowboys' passing attack was allow CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and others to get favorable matchups as Dak had 4,552 passing yards and 30 TDs.
Defenses could no longer drop more into coverage because Dallas would simply run the ball with Williams, who averaged a career-high 4.8 yards per carry.
Heading into 2026, if Williams is a Cowboy, the offense looks to have a more than viable run game if we factor in the expected improvement of Jaydon Blue, who Dallas thinks can form a nice tandem with Javonte.
Such has been Williams' impact both on and off the field that, of the 22 free agents the Cowboys have, you could make the case that, on the list of top priorities, Javonte is No. 2 behind only Pickens.
Dallas finally has a run game. It can't afford to go back to the bargain-bin free agency class again.
Yes, there are other backs who could be seen as better than Williams, but he's proved that he deserves a shot to run it back after a career-best season that not many saw coming.