The Dallas Cowboys have completed another major trade to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
The Cowboys acquired the star defensive tackle in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Notably, terms of the trade dictate that the 2027 first-round draft pick will be the higher of the Cowboys’ and Packers’ selections that Dallas currently holds, meaning New York will receive whichever selection is better, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
This trade comes as the Cowboys continue to add players at the trade deadline to help support a historically bad defense, with the franchise also trading for linebacker Logan Wilson in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Despite playing on a struggling defensive unit with the Jets, Williams has accumulated 32 total tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles during the 2025 regular season.
One of the most important aspects of Williams’ skillset is his ability to stop the run, as the defensive tackle ranks in the 99th percentile for run stop percentage this season, according to John Owning.
This ability will be crucial for a Cowboys team that has struggled to stop the run for the majority of the season, ranking 29th in the NFL with 143 rush yards allowed per game.
Although Williams has struggled on passing plays this season, ranking in the 47th percentile of PFF’s pass rush grades, he has shown himself to be an effective pass rusher in previous seasons, ranking in the 93rd percentile over the last three years, per John Owning.
This trade also provides a new perspective on the Cowboys’ decision to trade away star defensive end Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Green Bay acquired Parsons during the offseason in exchange for two first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027.
As a whole, the Cowboys essentially traded away Parsons, Smith, and a 2026 second-round draft pick in exchange for Williams, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and a 2026 first-round draft pick.
Additionally, the Cowboys could potentially cut Clark at the end of the season due to a potentially high cap hit, meaning the team likely received a single-season rental as part of the trade.
While this trade could help propel the Cowboys to winning seasons in the future, the Cowboys will have to capitalize on the additional first-round pick acquired from the Packers in the 2026 NFL Draft.