Javonte had a career-best season with the Cowboys in 2025 and, as a result, is set for a significant pay increase this offseason.
George Pickens might be the center of the Dallas Cowboys' world as free agency edges closer, but one player who is waiting for his turn in the background is running back Javonte Williams.
After a superb 2025 season that saw Javonte quieten all the skeptics with 1,201 yards and 11 TDs as he was the driving force behind the Cowboys having a top 10 run game, now he's set to be a free agent, too.
Of course, his situation is far different from George's.
We have already heard Stephen Jones state his desire to have Williams return to Dallas on a multi-year deal, so that is a good place to start.
Williams signed a one-year, $3 million deal in the offseason, so what could he get this offseason? $6 or $7 million APY over two or three years? That seems likely.
But if Javonte reads Sports Illustrated, he might have just gotten some more ammunition to take to Jerry Jones when the time comes to negotiate his contract.
Why? Because Karl Rasmussen has listed Williams as the No. 2 running back in this free agency class, above Rico Dowdle (3), Kenneth Walker (4), and Travis Etienne (5).
"After fizzling out with the Broncos, Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency and enjoyed a career year," Rasmussen writes. "He rushed for 1,201 yards, and 11 touchdowns––which matches his tally from his first four NFL seasons combined. Williams only signed a one-year deal in Dallas, so he’s set to return to the open market this offseason, still just 25 years old."
That is quite the feather in Javonte's cap, and yes, we get it, this list is subjective, but it points to Williams' skyrocketing value. ... at least in the eyes of some.
What he did for Brian Schottenheimer's offense was nothing short of superb. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry, the highest by a Cowboys starting running back since Tony Pollard (5.2) in 2022.
With Williams and his powerful and bruising running style, defenses had to commit more to the run, something that they weren't able to do in previous years. That then allowed Pickens and CeeDee Lamb to feast in the secondary (both surpassed 1,000 yards).
So Javonte's worth goes beyond just his rushing yards; it is what he does for the passing game, not to mention his talents as an elite pass protector as well.
And as the No. 2 free agent running back, Dallas would be wise to sign him long-term, which I have a feeling it will do.