Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season.
The Dallas Cowboys are a team notorious for being risk-averse and reluctant to make trades. However, something has gotten into Jerry Jones and the front office this year. First, the Cowboys made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire wide receiver George Pickens, and that has worked tremendously so far this season. Then, after a much-publicized contract negotiation, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
With Tuesday’s trade deadline, there was some expectation that, given how the season had gone so far, Jones might be done making deals. Yet, quite brazenly, Jones announced on Monday that a trade had already been done, which proved to be former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson joining the team for a seventh-round draft pick. Enough to raise a shrug of the shoulder and maybe raise an eyebrow, but nothing like the trade that caught everyone by storm.
Dallas sent a package that included a first-round pick and Mazi Smith to the New York Jets in exchange for Quinnen Williams. It’s a shocking and exciting change of course for the Cowboys that nets them one of the NFL’s best interior defenders and secures him in Dallas for the foreseeable future. As fortunate as the Cowboys are to have Williams’ services, there are still some questions to ponder in the trade’s aftermath. Here are ten burning questions following the Quinnen Williams trade.
1. Whose idea was this?
While we know how important it is for Jerry Jones to receive the credit, who decided that it was Williams as the player the team needed to zero in on and use some of their surplus of assets? Cowboys COO Stephen Jones has developed a reputation for saving every penny possible; therefore, it’s hard to envision him being the driving force behind this acquisition. Did Will McClay review the roster and decide that there was no saving the defensive interior, and something had to be done? Or did this come from coach Brian Schottenheimer? Being a first-year head coach, Schottenheimer has a lot to prove and has seen how dominant his offense can be, but was shackled to a defense that practically nullifies the impact of his offense. Whoever decided this was the right call, it’s refreshing to see the team identify a problem and find the best solution with the resources afforded to them.
2. Who won the trade?
That depends on the objective for both clubs. The New York Jets are all but mathematically eliminated. At 1-7, and with questions surrounding the direction of their future, the Jets decided that leaning into their rebuild was the better option. Getting premium draft picks suits their goals better than keeping around veterans on second contracts. Including their trade of Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, acquiring three first-round picks at the deadline is a big haul.
For Dallas, they acquire an elite run-stopping defensive tackle that has pass-rushing upside. Williams allowed the Cowboys to essentially flip the Micah Parsons trade into Kenny Clark, Williams, and an extra first-round pick, without having to negotiate a new contract since Williams has multiple years left on his current contract. Basically, the Cowboys are planning for the future while addressing an immediate need.
3. Who else was bidding for Williams
If Williams was available, who else was in line for his services? The compensation for Williams is more than reasonable, and after the Jets traded Gardner, it seems that teams weren’t hesitant to offer up premier draft capital to get who they wanted. After Green Bay traded Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade, they had a need for a defensive tackle, but were they willing to throw more future assets for Williams? The Kansas City Chiefs also need help on the interior and haven’t been as effective in stopping the run. Kansas City was in talks with the Jets for Breece Hall, but wasn’t comfortable with the price to get Hall. Could Kansas City also decide that Williams was too pricy for their liking?
4. Who else was Dallas looking for?
It’s the deals that don’t get done that make you think. While Dallas picked up Logan Wilson and Williams, who else were the Cowboys looking to acquire? Rumors had the Cowboys were linked to Tennessee Titans defender Jeffrey Simmons, who stayed in Tennessee despite the Titans going nowhere this year and being in need of a complete rebuild. Minkah Fitzpatrick would have been nice to add to the Cowboys, who need help in their secondary and would have completed the three-level ensemble of linebacker, defensive tackle, and safety, but nothing formulated for Dallas. Jermaine Johnson was another player connected to Dallas, but the Jets didn’t move him, and the Cowboys opted to stand pat at edge rusher during the trade deadline.
5. Does this put the Cowboys back in the playoff chase?
Sitting at 3-5-1, the Cowboys’ chances at making the playoffs are severely in question. Dallas has a conference record of 2-4-1 and is currently out of the playoff picture. Meanwhile, three teams in the NFC West have six wins or more, including the San Francisco 49ers, whose six wins have come against the NFC. The mathematical edge isn’t in Dallas’ favor to make the postseason, even as a wild card for the moment.
Their best chance would be somehow catching the NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles, who are 2.5 games ahead of Dallas. The Cowboys would have to beat the Eagles, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants to finish with a 5-1 record in the division, hope the Eagles stumble, and navigate a remaining schedule against the Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Detroit Lions.
6. Are the Cowboys done adding pieces to the defense ?
Although the trade deadline has passed, it doesn’t mean the Cowboys are done adding more to the roster. If they wanted, they could get more help for the defense still, the team has roughly $20M available in cap space per Overthecap.com. Assume the Cowboys wanted to do more for the defense, here are three players Dallas could target in mid-season free agency:
Stephon Gilmore
Stephon Gilmore has expressed that he would like to continue playing and is at home waiting for a call. Gilmore was with the Minnesota Vikings last year and started all 17 games for the Cowboys in 2023, intercepting two passes. He would be a nice fill-in with veteran leadership and not force Revel to take the field too soon.
Justin Simmons
If added, Simmons would give somebody who could play center field in the deep third of their defense and also provide run support. Hooker hasn’t been quite right this season, and so far, Dallas doesnt have enough of a sample to be sure of Juanyeh Thomas filling that role at an above average level. Simmons is only two years from removed from the 2023 season, where he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Demarcus Walker
Demarcus Walker is someone who has close ties to Matt Eberflus, having played for him for the last two seasons in Chicago. Walker has tallied seven sacks in the last two seasons and could be used in multiple spots. He can rush off the edge and play as an under tackle in sub packages. If Dallas has convinced itself that 2025 isn’t over yet, it could look to inquire about these players.
7. Can Dallas play Clark, Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa at the same time?
Following the trade, Dallas has three capable defensive tackles, whose total contract value is over $200M per Spotrac.com. That’s a lot of money being tied up to a singular position group. Justifiably, Dallas will want to see an immediate return on investment. Is there a way to play Williams, Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa at the same time? Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus could tinker with an odd-man front that sees Quinnen Williams at nose tackle and Clark and Osa Odighizuwa playing essentially the 5 technique, with defensive ends either playing hands down (5-man front) or standing (3-man front). Having all defensive tackles on the field could create isolated mismatches that could benefit the edge rushers.
8. What’s the plan with the two first-round picks Dallas retained in 2026?
Yes, Dallas will have to surrender one of its four first-round draft picks over the next two draft classes in the deal for Williams. However, Dallas still has two first-round picks for this April’s draft. So, what should the Cowboys do with the selections? Dallas’ defense still has a lot of work to do to make the unit a respectable group once again. The secondary appears to need the most attention.
Dallas has been very thin at cornerback, and there’s a lot of inexperience there. Dallas is hoping Shavon Revel can contribute right away once he’s healthy to return later this season, and Caelen Carson hasn’t seen the field much in his return from injured reserve. Malik Hooker has missed time this season, and the safeties have given up a lot of explosive plays.
It makes you wonder if Dallas’ first-round picks this year are already earmarked for the secondary. There’s also a possibility that the Cowboys could trade down to acquire more picks. Dallas has added the benefit of adding a premier defender while having the ammunition to acquire another, getting an impactful rookie, or getting even more resources.
9. Does the trade add more pressure on Matt Eberflus to get immediate results?
As former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells once said, “If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries,”. While Matt Eberflus didn’t foot the bill, the Cowboys gave him the best cut available of Wagyu beef in the middle of his defense. Logan Wilson also should ease some of the pressure being thrust upon rookie linebacker Shemar James, whose head must be spinning with all he’s had to learn in his first NFL season.
Dallas wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask for immediate improvements with what they added this week, at least in stopping the run. That should place the focus on Matt Eberflus to provide results in some form or another. There’s been a discussion on the team’s reliance on zone coverage versus man.
Yet, the defense showed that it couldn’t do either. Some of that is on the personnel and some on Eberflus. If things continue as poorly as they have been, things could get increasingly uncomfortable for Eberflus. The Cowboys would love not to have to have their fourth defensive coordinator in as many years, but will they have no choice if the defense continues to weigh down the team?
10. Does the trade impact Trevon Diggs’ contract?
So far, Trevon Diggs hasn’t been mentioned, and for good reason. The relationship between Diggs and the front has been tenuous ever since Diggs sustained a knee injury and rehabbed away from the team. Recently, following a mysterious home accident that resulted in a concussion, Diggs was placed on injured reserve. With all that has transpired and a reshaping of the team’s financial priorities, is Diggs playing in his final year in Dallas? He hasn’t played that well when in the lineup, and his contract is relatively easy to shed. If cut, after this season, Diggs would have a cost of $5.8M in dead cap but also save the Cowboys $12.5M in cap space. Again, Dallas has two first-round picks this year and could target a top cornerback in the draft.
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