The Cowboys signed Javonte Williams to a new deal early in the offseason, and already it's looking like a steal.
The Dallas Cowboys have long been the "losers" in several contract negotiations over the years, most notably with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
Dallas dragged its feet and still paid exactly what most thought they would.
But have the Cowboys and Jerry Jones actually won a contract negotiation this offseason?
George Pickens signed the franchise tag at $27.3 million for the 2026 season. Brandon Aubrey was made the highest-paid kicker in NFL history with his four-year, $28 million deal, which has $20 million guaranteed.
Both are good pieces of business, but hardly "wins."
But the deal I'm talking about took place months ago, and you could argue it's been forgotten.
And that is Javonte Williams' three-year, $24 million deal with $16 million guaranteed.
Per Over The Cap, that makes Williams the 19th highest-paid back in football.
That's a win, right?
Absolutely, it is, especially when looking at the deals running backs have signed this offseason.
Breece Hall put pen to paper on a three-year, $45.75 million contract, giving him roughly $14.2 million per season (fifth-highest paid back).
Then there's Kenneth Walker and his three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs ($14.3 million APY, fourth-highest paid back), and Travis Etienne with the New Orleans Saints and his four-year, $48 million deal ($12 million APY).
Williams' contract is still well under that.
To not even be in the middle of the pack for contracts, the Cowboys' deal for Javonte is looking better and better as the months go on.
After a career-best season in Dallas that saw him post 1,201 yards and 11 TDs, there was a thought that Williams could command big money this offseason. Instead, his contract was one of the first pieces of business the Cowboys did.
And they did it quietly with no fuss.
Granted, that helps when both sides are eager to get a deal done, and as soon as the offseason began, the deal was signed.
For so long, the Cowboys have been losers in negotiations and often been made the punchline of jokes, but you can't argue that after Javonte's 2025 season, to get him signed for the next three years at just $8 million APY, that's an absolute bargain.
It has been a positive offseason for the Cowboys, and Javonte's team-friendly deal kick-started it.
Dallas clearly "won" this negotiation, and it's not even close.