The Dallas Cowboys are closing in on the start of 2026 OTAs. Dallas and the other 31 NFL franchises have made almost all of the significant moves they will make before the start of training camp.
Dallas’ roster looks significantly different from what it did at this time last year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. With that thought in mind, today we continue our series ranking the top 10 players on the Cowboys roster for the 2026 season.
6) Javonte Williams
Age: 26
Years Pro: 5
NFL Awards: None
2025 Recap:
Following an extremely disappointing 2024 campaign, Javonte Williams’ NFL career was at a crossroads. After a very productive rookie year in Denver, the former second-round pick was unable to consistently stay on the field or come close to replicating that level of production during his final three seasons as a Bronco.
After putting on display the worst season of his career in 2024, Williams departed Denver looking to find a new home. Williams eventually found that landing spot in Dallas as the Cowboys took a gamble on the then-25-year-old’s bounce-back potential. That move ended up being one of the Cowboys’ best of the offseason as Williams put together a career year in Dallas.
Williams recorded 1,201 rushing yards, the most by a Cowboys since 2019, while averaging an impressive 4.8 Y/A, 75.1 Y/G, and scoring 13 total touchdowns. Equally as important, Williams was able to stay healthy and played in 16 regular-season games, something that was a big question mark coming into the year.
The former second-round pick instantly stabilized Dallas’ running back room, emerging from Week 1 as their lead back and strengthening the position group in a significant way.
2026 Preview: After such an encouraging 2025 season, expectations are even higher for Williams during his second year in Dallas. The Cowboys were so happy with what they saw from Williams last season that they signed him to a three-year, $24M contract extension before he was able to hit the open market.
With Williams locked up long-term, it’s evident the Cowboys view him as the focal point of their run game moving forward. The 26-year-old’s physicality and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield make him a perfect fit in Dallas’ offensive scheme, and it’s realistic to expect he can replicate his performance from last season if he can stay healthy.
Prediction: Javonte Williams has another stellar year, rushing for 1,200 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.
