While not everyone was excited about the Dallas Cowboys signing running back Javonte Williams to a one-year contract after opting to let Rico Dowdle walk out the door in free agency, the move actually turned out to be one of the best Jerry Jones made this past offseason.
At the low, low price of just $3 million, the Cowboys have gotten more out of the fifth-year veteran than anyone could have expected, as the 25-year-old has rushed for a career-high 1,201 yards and a career-best 11 touchdowns while averaging a career-high 4.8 yards per carry, also adding another 137 yards and two scores on 35 receptions.
While Jerry Jones has expressed interest in bringing Williams back, that simply may not be feasible. Given the season he's had, Williams could very well command somewhere between $7 million and $9 million per season on a new contract, which would be a problem, as the Cowboys are currently projected to be over the 2026 salary cap by more than $33 million. And that's not even taking their draft picks into account, which could add more than $13 million to that total.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay is predicting Williams to sign with the New York Jets once free agency begins in March to replace Breece Hall, who's expected to receive several lucrative offers to sign elsewhere. And to replace Williams, Kay is calling for the Cowboys to try once again to find lightning in a bottle by bringing in J.K. Dobbins on a one-year deal.
Cowboys should not sign J.K. Dobbins to replace Javonte Williams
The idea of Dobbins behind the Cowboys' offensive line is certainly intriguing, as he can be extremely explosive. But the big problem has been his ability to stay healthy.
After making 15 appearances as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, the second-round selection missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, suffered another knee injury in 2022 that limited him to just eight games, and then tore an Achilles in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
He bounced back with a solid season for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, rushing for 905 yards and nine touchdowns, but still missed four games with a sprained MCL. Dobbins was having a strong 2025 for the Denver Broncos, rushing for 772 yards and four scores in 10 appearances, but a Lisfranc injury landed him on season-ending injured reserve back in November. So, there will naturally be concerns for any team thinking about signing him this offseason.
Kay is calling for Dallas to bring Dobbins in on a one-year, $5 million contract. But given his injury history, the Cowboys may just be able to get him for the same $3 million they gave Williams for this season.
We'll now just have to wait and see how things play out. The Cowboys will undoubtedly be doing plenty of restructuring this offseason, so maybe things work out so that Williams returns. But with the team also maybe attempting to bring back George Pickens, which won't be cheap, the running back room may end up taking a back seat.