The Dallas Cowboys have officially begun the team’s offseason and the front office faces decisions about the future of several key players. Dallas is already making moves on the team’s coaching staff as the franchise announced the firing of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
The move had been expected as the Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the league, despite a fleeting stretch of momentum following the NFL trade deadline deal for Quinnen Williams. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Cowboys are sure to be in a fight to retain running back Javonte Williams following a career season by the playmaker.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay offered early predictions for some of the top free agent running backs like Williams. Cowboys fans may be sad to learn that the analyst is predicts Williams will sign a three-year, $20 million contract with the New York Jets.
Dallas’ solution to this potential problem could currently be playing on one of the best teams in the NFL playoffs.
Cowboys Predicted to Replace Javonte Williams With Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins
The Cowboys’ next running back may currently be competing in the AFC. Kay predicts the Cowboys will replace Williams with Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins on a team-friendly one-year, $5 million deal, adding that Dallas may be “priced out” on re-signing their current RB1.
“With Dobbins missing multiple games in all six of his NFL seasons—including all of the 2021 campaign and almost all of 2023—it’ll be tough for him to earn any sort of long-term deal from a club,” Kay wrote in a December 30, 2025, story titled, “Ideal Landing Spots and Projected Contracts for 2026 NFL Free-Agent RBs.” “He’s had to settle for one-year agreements in back-to-back seasons and will likely need to again in 2026 despite playing in a majority of his teams’ games over the past two years and offering quality contributions when healthy.
“Dobbins will be well worth rolling the dice on for a cash-strapped club like the Dallas Cowboys. The team could be priced out of retaining Javonte Williams and will want to make up that lost production by coming to terms on a cheap, incentive-laden deal with Dobbins.”
Cowboys Rumors: Dallas May Be Outbid for Starting RB Javonte Williams
Cowboys fans should not panic as these are just educated projections on where players may go in NFL free agency. Dallas is still very much in the hunt to re-sign Williams, but the Cowboys will need to be prepared to offer the playmaker a sizable raise.
Williams played on a one-year, $3 million contract and will likely land a more lucrative multi-year deal when free agency begins in March. Spotrac projects Williams’ market value to be a three-year, $22 million deal.
Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins Among Potential Running Back Replacement Options for the Cowboys in NFL Free Agency
If Dallas gets outbid for Williams, there will be other available running backs like Dobbins who could be a fit. The Cowboys already had success with one former Broncos rusher.
Keep in mind, the Broncos were willing to let Williams walk as his production was not close to how the running back performed with the Cowboys. Dobbins posted 153 carries for 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 10 appearances for Denver during the 2025 regular season.
Cowboys Predicted to Replace RB Javonte Williams With Contender’s $5 Million Playmaker