The Dallas Cowboys will enter the offseason without a long-term option at running back on the roster. Starting RB Javonte Williams, veteran reserve Miles Sanders, and depth piece Malik Davis are all finishing the 2025 NFL season on one-year contracts, and none of their respective returns are guaranteed.
While it seems safe to say that Sanders will not return in 2026 after being lost for the season in October following a serious knee injury, just what the franchise elects to do with Williams and Davis remains to be seen. Doing whatever it takes, within reason, to agree on a new contract with Williams makes a great deal of sense after his resurgent performance in Dallas. Davis, however, is a different story.
Those will be interesting decisions to follow, for drastically different reasons, as the Cowboys inch closer to the start of free agency, and will undoubtedly be a jumping-off point for plenty of debates among the fan base between now and then.
Malik Davis Might be Too Good for Dallas to Not Retain as a Free Agent
Week 17 presented Davis with his biggest opportunity yet to show just what he is capable of when given a healthy dose of carries. After Williams left the Cowboys' 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day with a shoulder injury, Davis took on the role of lead back and did more than enough to hold off an attempted Commanders comeback in the second half. In the end, Davis finished the win with a career-best 103 rushing yards on 20 carries.
While Dallas does have Jaydon Blue on the roster, the rookie out of the University of Texas has done nothing to prove that he is a reliable piece of the puzzle at this time. Let alone one that can be depended on to carry any meaningful role entering the 2026 season. At this stage of the game, it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest to see a push among fans for Davis to be retained to serve in the role Blue was expected to fill in 2026 and beyond.
Obviously, other factors must be considered here, including the draft and other options in free agency. With George Pickens having earned a new contract, however, just how much money is left for a running back outside of Williams remains to be seen. This is why locking in on Davis early and securing a commitment on a team-friendly deal could be an effective route for the front office to take.
With one game remaining in the 2025 campaign, Davis should have another great opportunity to prove his worth to the Cowboys when Dallas travels to the Meadowlands for a matchup with the New York Giants.