The Dallas Cowboys are taking a mini-gamble and have agreed to terms with former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams. … with the smart projection seeing him as a possible starting running back pending what owner Jerry Jones’ club opts to do down the road.

They have low risk in this deal as they are signing him to a one-year contract which will not exceed $3.5 million even with incentives.

Williams was a second-round pick out of North Carolina by the Broncos in 2021. He had an impressive rookie year where he rushed for over 900 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes out of the backfield for an additional 316 yards and three more scores.

The former Tar Heel suffered a major knee injury his second season and in the eyes of some has never really regained his pre-injury form.

In that sense? The Cowboys are hedging their bets on a one-year deal with a reported base value of $3 million.

Williams started to come back to form in 2023 when he rushed for 774 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with a declining year, where he only gained 513 yards and scored four touchdowns in 2024. He only carried the ball 139 times last season.

He is among the NFL’s best blocking RBs in pass protection. That is the strength of WIlliams’ game and a trait which will endear him to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. He will help make sure quarterback Dak Prescott has a clean jersey at the end of the game.

With Rico Dowdle likely set to leave as a free agent (and maybe due to get paid twice Williams’ salary), Williams is sitting at the top of the depth chart, but that could soon change once training camp rolls around.

The Cowboys are likely to pick a running back in the early rounds of the draft to help give them a more balanced attack. … setting up a competition that will now involve a new veteran.