After the Dallas Cowboys made a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for linebacker Logan Wilson, Jerry Jones wasn’t done. Dallas, needing to add more to a bad defense, may have added the most impactful available defender at the deadline.
The Cowboys hunting this big at the deadline is big news. Usually, the Cowboys are very passive and look at role players at the deadline, but not today. Dallas adding Quinnen Williams proves that the Cowboys are sincere about fixing their defense. Adding the All-Pro defender raises the level of the defense in multiple ways.
First, why would the New York Jets give away one of their best players? Actually, they didn’t intend to. Quinnen Williams has had his name floated around trade rumors for years, but the Jets have always remained steadfast and have not wanted to trade him. Since his breakout in 2022, when he earned All-Pro honors, Williams has established himself as one best interior defenders in the league and has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. However, with the Jets sitting at 1-7 and no realistic chance at the playoffs, New York relented and chose to be sellers at the deadline. The trade also coincides with the Jets trading cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for multiple first-round picks. The Jets firmly established that to sell their young players, particularly Williams, it was going to cost a lot, and the Cowboys obliged.
Next, let’s examine the compensation. It is a lot. Dallas traded their second-round pick in 2026, and one of the two first-round picks they have the rights to in 2027, and Mazi Smith. For Smith, it allows the Cowboys to close the book on a draft pick who disappointed with the team after being drafted in the first round in 2023, but never could live up to his draft status. The compensation is more than suitable for a player of Williams’ caliber, but the question surround the Cowboys circumstances. Was this a panic move with little chance of getting the team to the playoffs this year?
Here’s how it helps Dallas on the field. Williams is an exceptional run defender that teams have to account for if they intend to run the football. Williams requires double teams to avoid being a disruptive force that takes over games. Per PFF, he has solidified himself as one of the best interior defenders at playing the run, falling in above the 90th percentile at in run defense and run stopping grades.
Furthermore, here’s how good he has been in just this season alone at stopping the run.
Williams is the most productive at individual run stops, run stuffs, and fifth in EPA. That all correlates to he’s going to limit runs after contact and plays that are well-blocked, being stopped before they can get to the second level, to do extra damage to a defense that has had problems at linebacker. It cannot be overstated how important that is for this defense, as they need their linebackers to be more consistent at filling gaps. Williams is an eraser of mistakes that he’ll prevent before they even happen.
As far as rushing the passer, he has 16 quarterback pressures this season. The Cowboys haven’t been able to make quarterbacks uncomfortable with pressure in the middle of the pocket. Williams’ presence will allow a burgeoning prospect like Donovan Ezeirauaku to benefit from Williams’ disallowing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket. Williams has 23.5 sacks from 2022-2024.
The Cowboys have to hope his impact will also carry over to the secondary. If Williams can speed up the timing of quarterbacks, then a challenged secondary should get a boost. The Cowboys also have Williams under contract through 2027, keeping an elite-level defender but toward the top end of defensive tackle contracts.
Finally, for Williams, it gives a fresh start with a new team. While Dallas is out of the playoff picture currently, it could be a contender next year and give Williams the opportunity to play in his first postseason game of his career, as the Jets have not made the postseason in more than a decade.
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