Perhaps he knew it back in November, when Broncos head coach Sean Payton made it clear rookie running back Audric Estime was in line for more touches in the second half of 2024, and there was nothing for Javonte Williams to do but accept his fate.
“Whoever the coach is, however things go, I just do my job and do what I’m supposed to do,” Williams told The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel then.
That coach was Sean Payton, who hadn’t drafted Williams, a highly-touted second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2021. And after being reduced to a time-share last fall, Williams is leaving Denver, as multiple sources told The Post the free agent back is signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys worth up to $3.5 million.
After starting another season as the leader of the Broncos backfield, Williams saw his opportunities fluctuate throughout the season. In a Nov. 10 loss at Kansas City, he received just one carry as Estime toted the ball 14 times. Williams didn’t carry the ball more than nine times in a game the final nine weeks of the season, including a wild-card loss to the Bills.
A source told The Post that Williams never requested an offer to re-sign with the Broncos after receiving a deal from the Cowboys.
It marks the end of a four-year journey in Denver for Williams, a well-liked back who made an imprint in the Denver community and authored a stellar rookie season in 2021, rushing for 903 yards on 203 carries in 17 games. After suffering a season-ending ACL injury in 2022, Williams dipped to 3.6 yards a carry across 2023 and 2024, despite being consistently active as a receiving option out of the backfield.
He’ll finish his Broncos career with 2,394 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns and 158 receptions.
Williams’ departure all but ensures the Broncos will need to add running back help. They were highly active meeting with running backs at the NFL combine and could look to select a name like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty or North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton in the first round.
Payton has generally preferred the back-by-committee approach, however, and Denver still is high on incoming second-year RB Estime. Jaleel McLaughlin also showed plenty of flashes in his second pro season in 2024, rushing for 496 yards on 113 carries.
Wilson headed to Dolphins: On Monday, a beaming Jarrett Stidham waxed poetic on his relationship with Broncos quarterback Bo Nix — telling a team reporter that Nix had invited him to work a football camp next weekend in Alabama and the two went on vacation together.
“Couldn’t be more excited to get back and get to work with Bo, and Davis (Webb), and the rest of the guys,” Stidham said, in a video of the backup quarterback re-signing with Denver that was posted Monday to the Broncos’ Twitter account.
Conspicuously left out of that quote: Fellow Bronco QB Zach Wilson, whose status dangled in uncertain free-agency waters. Later Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wilson was headed to the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal.
That cements Stidham as Denver’s No. 2 behind Nix after Wilson competed strongly for the backup job in 2024. The 2021 second-overall pick will have a chance to revitalize his career in Miami behind Tua Tagovailoa, after spending a year learning under Payton.
A Joker in serious talks: As the Broncos chase a versatile offensive weapon that can brighten life in Denver for Nix, the Post confirmed Monday morning that free-agent tight end Evan Engram was on a visit to Denver.
Thus ensued a lengthy delay, however, as Monday hours ticked by without any deal materializing with Engram.
If a deal is eventually inked, there’s upside for the 30-year-old Engram in Payton’s offense. He caught 114 passes for 963 yards in 2023 with Jacksonville, and at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, presents a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Waving farewell: Free agent linebacker Cody Barton will sign a multi-year deal with Tennessee, according to multiple reports, a precursor to the Broncos’ splashy signing of former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Also gone is cornerback and special-teams ace Tremon Smith, who played the “gunner” role for Denver and is signing a two-year deal with Houston.
The Broncos did bring back offensive tackle Matt Peart on a two-year deal, a source told the Post. His signing ensures six of the Broncos’ highest-repped linemen from 2024 return in 2025.
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