New Dallas Cowboys star Quinnen Williams.
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New Dallas Cowboys star Quinnen Williams.
Quinnen Williams delivered an emotional farewell to New York on Tuesday after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in a blockbuster deal at the deadline.
The Cowboys sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Williams, a three-time Pro Bowler.
Williams, 27, was the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama and quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier interior defenders. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 after posting a career-high 12 sacks and anchoring one of the NFL’s top defensive fronts.
With a rare blend of power, quickness, and technique, Williams has been a disruptive force against both the run and the pass, consistently grading among the top defensive tackles.
The one-win Jets went into full rebuild mode at the trade deadline, shipping out both Williams and Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner. Shortly after the trade was announced, Williams said goodbye to New York and Jets fans.
Quinnen Williams
New York will always have a special place in my heart. To my teammates, coaches, and the entire Jets organization, thank you for believing in me and helping me develop on and off the field. To the fans, thank you for embracing a kid from Alabama and showing love through every
“New York will always have a special place in my heart. To my teammates, coaches, and the entire Jets organization, thank you for believing in me and helping me develop on and off the field,” Williams wrote on X. “To the fans, thank you for embracing a kid from Alabama and showing love through every high and low. You welcomed me with open arms, and gave me a place to grow. Your energy and passion made every game unforgettable. I’m excited for what’s next in Dallas and can’t wait to get to work.”
Cowboys Excited to Add Quinnen Williams
The Cowboys are in need of a spark on defense. The Cowboys rank 31st in the NFL in points given up (30.8) and yards conceded per game (397.4).
“He’s just a difference maker,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said of Williams, who has 40 sacks on his resume. “The ability to affect the interior part of the pocket from a pass rush standpoint… very disruptive. For us, there’s certain calls you make and you’re aware of when he’s in the game because he’s just so disruptive.”
Dallas also added linebacker Logan Wilson in another trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“It’s exciting,” Schottenheimer said. “Kudos to Jerry and Stephen, Will, being aggressive but then smart. A couple of moves we made, you’re getting guys not just for this year but beyond, which I think is great… I think it’s two terrific players, but also terrific young men.”
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Pumped After Trades
The Cowboys’ facility was buzzing on Tuesday following the moves, which provided some positive momentum following the team’s 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he was “(expletive) pumped” about the move, which came just hours after he dubbed every game moving forward a “must-win.” Dallas heads into its bye week at 3-5-1.
“Every game is a must-win going forward. I know you say that, and you feel that in the NFL, and you should feel that, but when you put yourself in a position or behind like we have, it’s even more so that case,” Prescott said. “We’re fortunate right now that, in the league, there’s a lot of teams with multiple losses. … You can catch a hot streak and be right there in the mix.”
Prescott, Williams, and the Cowboys will look to get back on track after their bye when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 17.