The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the 2026 offseason with a clear lead back in Javonte Williams - and a whole lot of question marks behind him.
Williams was everything the Cowboys hoped for in 2025, racking up 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. Now a free agent, the team is working on a multi-year deal to keep him in Dallas.
That part of the backfield picture looks solid. But beyond that?
Things get murky fast.
Jaydon Blue, the rookie with high upside, had an inconsistent debut season. Malik Davis, a mid-season pickup who was literally signed off the couch, flashed in limited opportunities.
Phil Mafah is also in the mix, though he remains more of a developmental piece at this stage. Right now, you could argue Davis is the No. 2 back heading into the offseason - not exactly a position of strength for a team with postseason aspirations.
That’s why the door is still open for a familiar face: Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle, who spent the 2025 season with the Carolina Panthers, is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard campaign. And he’s not ruling out a reunion with the Cowboys.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” Dowdle said when asked about a potential return to Dallas. “I would never take that option off the table.
I definitely would consider coming back to Dallas. Truly thankful for them, and like I said, they blessed me and gave me the opportunity, the starting point to be where I am today.
So definitely.”
It’s a compelling option. Dowdle knows the system, knows the building, and clearly still has juice.
The Cowboys moved on from him after his breakout 2024 season, reportedly balking at a $6 million average annual price tag. Instead, they pivoted to Williams - a move that’s paid off.
But with the depth chart still unsettled behind their lead back, could Dowdle be the missing piece?
The challenge is fit - and finances.
Dowdle is a physical, downhill runner, much like Williams. He’s not a burner who’s going to stretch the field or break off 70-yard touchdowns.
His longest run in 2025 was 53 yards, and he only had two carries of 20-plus yards all season. In other words, he’s not the “lightning” in a Thunder-and-Lightning pairing - he’s more thunder.
And that redundancy in style could be a sticking point.
The Cowboys have talked about a complementary backfield approach, with Blue potentially bringing the change-of-pace element. But if Blue isn’t ready - and Davis or Mafah can’t step up - Dowdle becomes a very real, very proven option.
The question then becomes: how much are the Cowboys willing to pay for a No. 2 back? Dowdle won’t come cheap, and he’s likely looking for a significant role after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. But if Dallas is serious about shoring up its backfield depth and making a deep playoff run, bringing back a player who’s already proven he can produce in this system might be worth the investment.
The Cowboys have some decisions to make. The top of the depth chart is set.
The rest? Still very much up for grabs.
And with Rico Dowdle now in the conversation, things just got a whole lot more interesting in Dallas.