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.