The Dallas Cowboys had their three-game win streak halted in Week 14, as they fell 44-30 to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. In the process, they lost CeeDee Lamb to a concussion, while Nick Sorensen's special teams unit was a massive letdown.
While that wasn't ideal, it wasn't all bad, though, as running back Javonte Williams eclipsed his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign in his career. He came into Dallas as a one-year flier, but he has certainly exceeded expectations in his lone season.
It was a nice outcome for a Dallas team that appeared to miss on rookie Jaydon Blue, while Miles Sanders has been on the IR with an ankle/knee injury.
This is the exact kind of season Williams wanted going into a contract year, but it only complicates Dallas' decision on whether they will extend him or not.
Cowboys Have Tough Javonte Williams Choice to Make
Williams has been able to take advantage of having a dynamic passing attack, which opened up lanes in the running game. Not only has he been a quality ball carrier, but he's been a solid pass blocker.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams has a 68.8 pass-blocking grade, allowing just five pressures and three hurries this season. That's a major bonus, allowing him to stay on the field for all three downs. It also works in his favor that the Cowboys don't seem to have any backup option.
Spotrac has Williams' estimated contract at a three-year, $20.029 million deal ($6.7 million average annual salary). That's not a high price tag in the grand scheme of things, but the Cowboys have been reluctant to pay a running back following Ezekiel Elliott. This played a role in why the Cowboys let Tony Pollard walk in free agency in 2024, as they had a specific price point they wouldn't go over.
They'll likely have a similar approach with Williams in free agency, but it'll be tough since the Cowboys also have George Pickens set to hit the open market.
Spotrac projects that Dallas will enter free agency with -33 million in cap space, meaning they'll have to make some cuts and contract restructures to get under the cap. So, how much they are willing to throw in Williams' direction will be interesting to see.
Marcus Mosher of Fansided pointed out that Williams has slowed down as the season has gone on, and that's likely due to the lack of another force in the backfield. The way he finishes the 2025 season will be big in terms of a potential next deal, but they'll have a major decision to make.