The Dallas Cowboys struck a deal with running back Javonte Williams on Monday, and that seemed to point to one thing – the team wouldn’t re-sign Rico Dowdle.

That turned out to be very true as Dowdle is heading to the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal.

ESPN reports that Dowdle’s deal is worth a minimum of $3 million but could go as high as $6.5 million.

Similar to what happened when they let Tyron Smith leave, the Cowboys must not have been comfortable with the incentives reaching that high, and decided to get Williams at a max of $3.5 million.

You could make the argument of sticking with Dowdle for the extra money given how he performed last year, but the Cowboys may be thinking more about the draft.

That is where the team can find a new running back for cheap, especially given how there is a deep talent pool to choose from in 2025.

Williams is their backstop, but whoever they take in April will probably be looked at as the guy for 2025 and the future.