Should Cowboys extend red-hot Javonte Williams?

Of the unrestricted free agents the Dallas Cowboys signed during the offseason, there is no question Javonte Williams has been their best.

After five games, he is third in the NFL with 447 rushing yards and tied for second with five rushing touchdowns on 79 carries. He has also caught 17 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. While quarterback Dak Prescott is the Cowboys' most valuable and most important player, Williams' play is a big reason why the Cowboys (2-2-1) have such a productive offense.

He is on a one-year contract that could pay him up to $3.5 million. He received a $1 million bonus, a $1.5 million base salary that is fully guaranteed and can make up to $500,000 in active roster bonuses. If the Cowboys make the playoffs and he reaches 1,200 combined yards and 12 combined touchdowns in the regular season, he will earn an extra $500,000.

While the production might have surprised some, coach Brian Schottenheimer is not one of them.

"It was the physical play style," Schottenheimer said. "This is a guy as a pass protector [who] is elite. Playing away from the football, he's elite. He's violent with his chips and so smart and so intelligent."

Williams' start begs the question: Should the Cowboys look at signing him to an extension now rather than later?

The Cowboys have the salary cap space. Williams doesn't turn 26 until April. He has recovered from the torn right ACL and LCL sustained in 2022 with the Denver Broncos. He is excellent in the locker room.

Paying running backs is always tricky. Ezekiel Elliott's production dropped after his $90 million extension with Dallas in 2019, although Williams' price won't be that high. The Cowboys franchise-tagged Tony Pollard in 2023, but they might want to use that on wide receiver George Pickens this offseason. Williams' market could be bustling after the season, or he could like being a Cowboy so much that he is willing to sign up now.

There are still things to prove, like longevity. He has not had more than 217 carries in a season and is on pace for 269.

Everything is a gamble, but at the right price, locking up Williams now makes sense.