The Dallas Cowboys did not waste any time locking up one of their key free agents as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network broke the news that Javonte Williams has agreed to a new deal with America's Team on Saturday afternoon.
Per Rapoport, Williams and the Cowboys have come to terms on a three-year pact that will pay the running back as much as $24 million over the life of the deal, with $16 million of that figure being guaranteed money.
Retaining Williams was undoubtedly one of the top priorities of the front office after his breakout campaign during the 2025 season, and getting this deal done well before the start of free agency reinforces that fact. Jerry Jones and company knew how important Williams was to this offense's success, and they did not let him sniff the open market with this deal.
While this is great news for the Cowboys moving forward, the impact it may have on a key contributor from this past season would not be as positive, as it could signal that Malik Davis is likely on his way out the door.
Williams Re-Signing with Dallas Could Spell End of Malik Davis in Dallas
Davis is currently under contract for the 2026 season after agreeing to a two-year pact with Dallas. However, given that his $1.145 deal is not guaranteed for this coming year, the running back will have to earn his way onto the roster in training camp, yet again.
The fact that the Cowboys could cut bait with Davis at any time between now and the start of the regular season without it costing them a penny towards next season's cap makes his standing on the depth chart less secure. Despite the former Florida Gators standout averaging 4.8 yards per carry in 2025 on 52 rushes, he would cost the franchise nothing to move on from, while other running backs on the roster, namely Jaydon Blue, would carry dead cap money into the year, albeit a nominal amount of just over $320K.
The one saving grace for Davis could be the fact that the franchise has shown no indication of interest in bringing Miles Sanders back, after the veteran was lost for the bulk of the 2025 season following a knee injury that required surgery. Dallas will need to fill out its running back room, one way or another, but seeing the franchise go after a more proven option behind Williams wouldn't be surprising.
Now that Williams is back in the fold for the long haul, the moves the Cowboys make from here on out will go a long way towards deciding what type of role, if any, Davis has in Dallas in 2026.