After opting against re-signing veteran running back Rico Dowdle, the Dallas Cowboys decided to take a different approach to the running back room this offseason. The Cowboys didn’t spend a lot of money on the position in free agency, signing vets Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders each to one-year deals.
Cowboys fans were not pleased when those two deals were announced, as they saw this story before with Ezekiel Elliott last season. However, Dallas didn’t stop at those two FA signings; the team then took Jaydon Blue in the fifth and Phil Mafah in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft last month.
The rookie running backs have a chance to make the 53-man roster and compete for snaps this season, which is great news for Cowboys fans, but not so good for a veteran like Williams.
Javonte Williams Faces Make-or-Break Time in OTAs
Williams enters OTAs this season as the likely front-runner to be on the 53-man roster and start for the Cowboys based on experience. However, Dallas only signed him for $3 million in March, making him an easy cut if they believe Sanders and the two rookies are better options.
Last season, the 25-year-old running back had 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 139 carries – a slight decrease from 2024 (774 yards and three TDs on 217 carries). But the veteran saw more work in the passing game, racking up 52 receptions (70 targets) for 346 yards.
Williams’ ability to be a pass catcher out of the backfield could help him make the roster and see considerable playing time this season. However, a closer look at his numbers from last season shows a tale of two different seasons.
The veteran running back had a 3.8 yards per carry average and received 11.3 rushing attempts per game in the first nine games of last season. However, he only had a 3.4 YPC average and only saw 4.6 carries per game in the last eight games.
Williams averaged 3.8 yards per carry and 1.8 rushing yards after contact per rush in his final year with the Cowboys. That’s not impressive and a notable downgrade from what Dowdle did last season (4.6 YPC and 2.2 rushing yards after contact per rush).
Therefore, the veteran running back must show some burst out of the backfield in OTAs, training camp, and preseason. If he can’t do that, the Cowboys will easily turn the page to Sanders or go with one of the rookies, who could be the lead back by the end of the 2025 season.