Key Points:
- The Cowboys traded multiple draft picks and Mazi Smith to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
- ESPN analyst Seth Walder gave Dallas an F for the trade.
- Williams is expected to bolster the struggling Cowboys’ defense, particularly against the run.
The Dallas Cowboys made several moves on Tuesday before the NFL trade deadline. They acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals and, most notably, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. In exchange for Williams, the Jets received a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith
Williams is a big addition for the Cowboys’ defense. In eight games for New York this season, he’s racked up 32 tackles, one sack, seven tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and seven pressures. He has a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 79.7.
Despite Williams being a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro selection, not everyone is a fan of the trade. ESPN’s Seth Walder graded all of the trade deadline’s biggest moves, giving the Cowboys an F.
“There’s no other way to put it: This is a horrific trade for the Cowboys,” Walder wrote. “It is completely unfathomable for a team like Dallas to be trading away major draft resources for a soon-to-be-28-year-old defensive tackle on a salary-heavy contract in a season when it has a 7% chance to make the playoffs, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. And yet here we are.
“If they felt regret over the Micah Parsons deal and thought this would ease the pain … trust me, it’s only making it worse.”
Following their “Monday Night Football” loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas is just 3-5-1, and as Walder mentioned, has slim chances of making the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys’ Defense Needs a Boost
The Cowboys may have given up a lot to get the three-time Pro Bowler, but there’s no doubt their defense needs the help. Their defense ranks 31st in both total yards per game allowed (397.4) and points per game allowed (30.8).
Williams excels especially well at stopping the run, and pairing him with a defensive tackle, who was added via the Parsons trade, could help Dallas stop opposing rushing attacks.
It’s clear he’s ready to get to work, saying, “It’s unbelievable to be able to come to an organization with so much history, so much talent on the team, great ownership and a great group of guys in the locker room, and a great head coach, and things that the guys are doing here, so I’m super happy to be a part of this,” according to Ali Jawad of DLLS Cowboys.
The Cowboys are on a bye week, meaning Williams’ first in-game action for his new team may come in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders.