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ESPN Doubts Cowboys' Javonte Williams Is Rico Dowdle Upgrade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 8:07 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys this offseason allowed Rico Dowdle to test free agency, and the running back made the move to the Carolina Panthers.

To counter that, Brian Schottenheimer and the front office signed veterans Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams to be the leading candidates for the starting role.

With Dowdle surpassing 1,000 yards last season from his 235 attempts, ESPN's Bill Barnwell, in naming players who could break out or flop, isn't sure if Williams is the answer to being an upgrade over Rico.

"The Cowboys would probably argue the move makes sense because of Williams' range of abilities," Barnwell writes. "There's a case that he is a more complete back given his body of work as a receiver and pass blocker. Dallas didn't necessarily trust Dowdle with pass blocking until the second half of last season, when they named him the full-time starter.

"Only $1 million of Williams' $3 million is guaranteed, so there's a slim-but-plausible chance he doesn't even make the active roster in Week 1. I would say it's likely Williams gets there, but that we see him strictly in a rotational role. He's not likely to reach Dowdle's heights in workload or production."

Williams is seen as the better pass protector, and he has three years of starting experience in Denver, during which he has had at least 40 receptions each year, a key trait Schottenheimer is looking for.

As for Barnwell's statement that Williams won't reach Dowdle's production, that is low-hanging fruit because for half the season, Rico was the starter. This year, it will be a tandem (we think) of Sanders and Williams.

Granted, this is all projection-based from Barnwell and us, and the proof will be in how Williams fares in 2025, providing he makes the final roster.

However, if people are basing Williams' success on whether he can post better stats than Dowdle, then you will have to adjust your parameters for what success will look like for Javonte in 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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