Jerry Jones
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Jerry Jones will love this running back news.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will love this as he saved money at the running back position this offseason.
The Cowboys re-signed Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract last week, which kept the talent running back in the building. On Tuesday, Jones can see that another team spent a lot more — at least annually.
Breece Hall, originally one of the top free agent options at running back, received the franchise tag from the New York Jets. NFL insider Jordan Schultz posted that the Jets will pay him $14.3 million for 2026. Hall confirmed he’s staying via a social media message on Tuesday.
“Always been the type to bet on myself. Been working…see yall soon,” Hall wrote on X.
Last season, Hall rushed for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries. He also had 36 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown.
Williams put up better numbers, and he will do it for only $8 million annually. He rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Williams caught 35 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cowboys have a strong No. 1 running back and avoided the franchise tag or overpaying at the position this offseason.
Cowboys Met Top Priority
Jerry Jones’ son and Cowboys co-owner, Stephen Jones, made it clear that Williams was a big priority this offseason.
It didn’t drag out either as it did for other offensive stars in recent years such as quarterback Dak Prescott or wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Those negotiations dragged well into the offseason.
“Javonte’s at the top of our list to go out and sign,” Stephen Jones said in January via the team website. “We want to bring him back. We want to sign him to a multiple year deal.”
Williams left the Denver Broncos for the Cowboys in 2025 on a one-year, $3 million deal. His career year allowed the Cowboys to boast a top-ten offense despite a losing record.
“I love it here,” Williams told reporters in December 2025 via the team website. “I love my teammates, I love everybody… You don’t always want to just follow money and things like that. You want to go somewhere where you can succeed and be a part of something that’s special. I feel like it’s very special here.”
Cowboys Avoided Drama With Franchise Tag
Dallas already issued its franchise tag with star wide receiver George Pickens last week, and that was much heftier than Hall’s at $27.29 million for 2026.
That said, the Cowboys avoided a situation that would have resembled Lamb’s contract saga. Ironically, former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum saw that dynamic coming if the Cowboys hadn’t tagged Pickens.
“This deal is impossible to get done, and I’m telling you we’re going to be talking about it on September 2, 3 and 4,” Tannenbaum said during ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday. “I think what happens is like most franchise players, he’ll show up disgruntled the Tuesday before opening day so he doesn’t miss a paycheck, but I just don’t see a long-term deal getting done because they’re not going to pay him as a front-line No. 1 receiver, which is what he’s going to want.”