A few hours after trading superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner, the New York Jets continued their fire sale by trading defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys.
Williams, a three-time Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro, was traded from New York to Dallas just hours before the NFL trade deadline. The move gives the Cowboys, who are trying to stabilize a defense that has struggled a bit since the preseason trade of Micah Parsons, an immediate anchor in the middle of their defensive line.
More importantly for the future, the Cowboys are acquiring Williams on a team-friendly, long-term contract that was recently restructured by the Jets. Williams is currently operating under a four-year, $96 million extension signed in July 2023, which locks him up through the 2027 season with a manageable cap hit for Dallas in the immediate future, making the acquisition a win for both the present and long-term roster
MORE:Why did the Jets trade Quinnen Williams to Dallas?
Quinnen Williams trade details
Williams joins Dallas to immediately bolster a struggling defensive line that was weakened by the trade of Micah Parsons. Dallas is effectively using some of the draft capital acquired in the Parsons deal to secure Williams, who provides an elite interior presence under contract for the long term.
The full compensation package the Cowboys sent to the Jets was significant, though arguably less than what the Jets received for Gardner earlier that day. The Jets acquired a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick from the Cowboys. Crucially, the Jets will receive the better of Dallas’ two 2027 first-round picks; the Cowboys have an extra first-rounder from the earlier Micah Parsons trade.
BREAKING: Jets trade DT Quinnen Williams to Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 1st-round pick and more. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/CGjs6luknu
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025
In addition to the draft capital, the trade included a swap of defensive tackles: the Cowboys sent former 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith to the Jets. For Dallas, this move effectively cuts bait with a struggling young player to secure an established All-Pro.
For the rebuilding Jets, acquiring a young, cost-controlled former first-round defensive lineman helps them restock the roster alongside the influx of high-value draft picks from both the Williams and Gardner trades.
MORE: Breece Hall adds to Jets' trade buzz with comments hinting at frustration
Quinnen Williams contract details
Williams signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Jets in July 2023, making him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league with an average annual value of $24 million. This deal locks him up through the 2027 season, giving the Cowboys control of his services for two and a half full seasons after the trade.
The Jets were responsible for the initial massive payouts, including the $24.5 million signing bonus. This money, already paid by New York, leaves the Cowboys with a much more manageable cap burden in the immediate 2025 and 2026 seasons, before his full AAV cap hit takes effect.
Williams’ contract contained substantial guarantees, totaling $66 million at the time of signing. However, by the 2025 trade deadline, most of the fully guaranteed money had already been paid or had become fully guaranteed earlier in the 2025 league year. This means the Cowboys are taking on a contract with significantly less future dead-cap risk than if they had been the ones to sign the extension.
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Quinnen Williams career earnings
According to Spotrac, Williams has earned over $91 million in his NFL career.
At the time of signing, Williams' 4 year, $96M extension was the 2nd highest average paid defensive tackle in NFL history and his $66M of practical guarantees is the most ever handed out by the Jets organization.
Williams is under team control in Dallas until 2028.
MORE:Grading the Sauce Gardner trade