What's next for Javonte Williams? Cowboys RB injury, free agency set up contract intrigue

Billy Heyen

What's next for Javonte Williams? Cowboys RB injury, free agency set up contract intrigue image

The Dallas Cowboys will play a meaningless Week 18 game on Sunday.

They take on the New York Giants in a matchup of two teams already eliminated from the playoffs.

The Cowboys will also be quite shorthanded. Running backs Javonte Williams and Malik Davis have both been ruled out with injuries, setting up the rookie Jaydon Blue for lots of playing time.

This is a fascinating time for Williams to miss out, because it could mean he has already played his last game with the Cowboys.

Williams is a free agent when this season ends, having come to Dallas on a one-year contract.

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What's next for Javonte Williams?

It's not clear whether the Cowboys will choose to re-sign Williams or not.

A year ago, Rico Dowdle surpassed 1,000 yards and the Cowboys let him walk in free agency, bringing in Williams instead.

Could they follow a similar pattern?

It'll likely come down to the money.

"Anything over $10 million per year would be an overpay for Williams after just one breakout season and with a history of injuries," The Ringer's Austin Gayle writes. "Jaylen Warren, D’Andre Swift, Tony Pollard, and Chuba Hubbard each signed multi-year deals in the $6 million–to–$8 million per year range recently. Williams would still be a value signing on that kind of contract."

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