Williams came to Dallas as an afterthought last season after a slump at the end of his time with the Broncos.
Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, looked explosive again as a rookie, but a knee injury cut short his ’22 campaign and seemed to diminish his explosiveness over the next two seasons in Denver.
He then signed a one-year, $3 million prove-it deal with the Cowboys and immediately continued to do so. After rushing for 1,287 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023-24, he suddenly eclipsed his one-season total with the All-Star.
Williams rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs — doubling his career rushing TD total — with a career-high 4.8 yards per carry. He also added 35 catches for 137 yards and two more scores, continuing to be the reliable outlet he has been throughout his career.
His production gave the Cowboys a balanced offensive attack the team hadn’t enjoyed in several years, making him a valuable asset to lock down in 2026.
Still just a few months away from his 26th birthday, Williams makes a reasonable acquisition for Dallas. His $8 million annual average salary ties him for 16th with the Bears’ D’Andre Swift among running backs — just above former Cowboy Tony Pollard’s $7.3 million with the Titans.
Now that Williams is taken care of early, all eyes are on how the Cowboys approach things with their big free agent: wide receiver George Pickens.