Dallas Cowboys Sign Running Back and Former Third Overall Pick in Free Agency

DALLAS, TX — The Dallas Cowboys have made a few moves, good and bad, as free agency has begun.

Starting off with the good, the Cowboys have added a former Denver Broncos second-round pick, running back Javonte Williams.

Williams had 903 rushing yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, but he tore up his knee early in his second season, and he has split time since. The good thing about this is he doesn’t have the wear and tear of a full-time starting running back. He is also a decent receiving back as he has 156 receptions over four years.

Still expect the Cowboys to add a running back in this deep draft class, but Williams could provide exactly what he did in Denver, a change-of-pace back who doesn’t have to get 20 carries a game.

Another player the Cowboys recently signed is former third overall pick, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas. The San Francisco 49ers picked Thomas in the 2017 NFL Draft but declined his fifth-year option. Thomas ended up tearing his ACL in 2020. Since, Thomas has been a rotational piece and has bounced from the 49ers to the Las Vegas Raiders, then ended up on the New York Jets where he played for newly acquired Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.

With the recent re-signing of Osa Odighizuwa, Thomas will probably be a rotational player. This signing takes place as Chauncey Golston left the Cowboys for the New York Giants.

The Cowboys also signed former Miami Dolphins lineman Rob Jones. In the wake of Zack Martin’s retirement, the Cowboys need depth along the offensive line.

With the good comes some bad.

In addition to losing Martin and Golston, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and offensive lineman Chuma Egoda signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Cowboys could still add players in free agency to enter the draft with a clean of a slate as possible. Corner is still a need as is adding another offensive weapon to the receiver room. The good news is some of the top free agents play those positions as Amari Cooper is one of the better receivers left, and Asante Samuel Jr. is one of the top corners available.