The Dallas Cowboys are never far from the spotlight, and when owner Jerry Jones promised an immediate difference-maker would be added before the deadline, it was only a matter of time before America’s Team pulled the trigger.
Following the earlier trade for Logan Wilson, Dallas landed one of the biggest fish of the deadline. In a stunning move, the Cowboys sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the New York Jets for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
For a team sitting at 3-5-1, such a massive splash came as a surprise to many around the league. However, Williams projects to make a significant impact, earning high praise from analysts.
What Does the Quinnen Williams Trade Mean for the Cowboys?
The Jets’ biggest move of the day sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round selections and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Their second major deal, shipping Williams to Dallas, could now help decide the lower seeds of the NFC playoff picture.
Williams offers Dallas an injection of pass-rushing talent that was lost in the Micah Parsons trade, while also boosting one of the league’s worst run defenses. Heading into the trade, the Cowboys’ defense ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed with 1,287 and 27th in touchdowns given up with 11. Williams, who has already recorded seven tackles for loss across eight games, provides a sizable upgrade.
On “SportsCenter,” former Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears spoke about the upgrade Williams provides.
“Listen, I think this is huge for the Dallas Cowboys. Mike (Tannenbaum) has been on shows with me when I’ve talked about how important interior pressure is in the NFL,” Spears said.
“Now, they helped bolster their pass rush but they also got a guy that plays the run very well. And people are probably scratching their heads, ‘Well, they got Kenny Clark.’ Kenny Clark was more to solidify the run game. Quinnen is going to be both. And we’ve seen him play at the highest level.”
“Listen, I think this is huge for the Dallas Cowboys.”@mspears96 reacts to the Cowboys acquiring Quinnen Williams in a trade with the Jets 😂 pic.twitter.com/sNdyQjlIn5
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2025
Frankly, the Cowboys desperately need the help. Ranking 31st in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, Dallas has threatened to waste a year of its competitive window by allowing 30 or more points in five different games. While Kenny Clark has been on the roster, his performance has been inconsistent, and adding a player of Williams’ stature should alleviate some of the pressure on his shoulders.
“The Jets are obviously wholesaling; they’re trying to break this thing down to the foundation and rebuild,” Spears added. “So why not the Dallas Cowboys benefit from it? I think this is a hell of a deal for the Dallas Cowboys to get an impact player right now. … This is absolutely a step in the right direction. So kudos to Jerry.”
Although Williams has just one sack this year, he has posted between 5.5 and 12 sacks in every season since 2020. During that time, he has also earned three Pro Bowl appearances for his dominant two-way work in the trenches.
The addition gives Dallas new options. The Cowboys could play Clark and Williams on the field together on early downs, then rotate Osa Odighizua in for the former on passing downs. This approach would keep legs fresh and take full advantage of their new addition’s versatility.
MORE: 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Tracker
“I’m extremely happy that Quinnen Williams will be a Dallas Cowboy, and I’m extremely confident that he will help this team in the immediacy in which Jerry alluded to when he was talking just now,” Spears concluded.
With challenging games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Chargers looming, Williams reinforces Dallas’ meager playoff hopes while amplifying its chances next season. It shouldn’t take long to see him make an impact on his new team.