It’s rare that an NFL contract is exactly what it said it was when it was first announced. Many times, agents will exaggerate the amount of an injury settlement in the initial press release, and in order to curry future scoops, the media will not push back. However, when it comes to the new deal the Dallas Cowboys and RB Javonte Williams have reached, that’s pretty much what’s been advertised.
Williams joined the club on Tuesday, officially signing on the dotted line in an agreement reached last week. There were some interesting notes when the deal details were revealed, but the most notable is that this three-year, $24 million deal with $16 million guaranteed may be just that.
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ESPN’s Todd Archer revealed the details, saying there’s only $2 million in unspecified “injury coverage” in the deal, and they’re not typical injury coverage. The most common injury coverage is to protect a player from being unable to fulfill his contract due to a serious injury. Williams has two guaranteed roster bonuses of $1 million per game in 2026 and 2027. If these bonuses were only guaranteed against injuries, that would mean he would still receive bonuses if he missed games due to injury, but if he was suspended or disciplined, he would not receive bonuses for those missed games.
We’ve also learned that having two gap years could help cushion the impact of the signing bonus cap and potential reorganization in 2027. As a result, at least $14 million in fully guaranteed money will be paid over the first two years of the deal, with $2 million in guaranteed bonuses adjusted because it helps lower the cap.
Signing bonus: $6 million By 2026, 2027, and 2028, each amount will reach $1.2 million, and the amount of dead money in 2029 will reach $2.4 million.
2026 base salary: $1.75 million All of that will count toward his 2026 cap hit.
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2026 roster bonus per game: $1 million Guaranteed, 16/17 of that will count toward his 2026 cap hit, which is $941,176.
2026 holding cap: $3.891 million
2027 base salary: $6.25 million The team could easily restructure next spring to reduce the salary cap impact.
2027 roster bonus per game: $1 million ensure.
2027 holding cap: $8.45 million
Basic salary in 2028: $7 million
2028 roster bonus per game: $1 million Not guaranteed.
2028 holding cap: $9.2 million
2029 dead money: $2.4 million
This article originally appeared in Cowboys Wire: Full breakdown of Cowboys’ contract extension with RB Javonte Williams
