The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big move before the NFL trade deadline, but it might not have been the one fans wanted. They brought in former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers, filling the slot receiver role that Travis Hunter held before his injury. Meyers should be a solid addition to an offense that clearly needed more weapons, but the defense still has a glaring weakness that needs to be fixed.
In many ways, Quinnen Williams felt like the ideal trade target for the Jags. He’s one of the best defensive tackles in football, capable of shutting down both the run and the pass.
The superstar defender could have made a major impact in Jacksonville, but the Jags missed their chance at trading for him. The Dallas Cowboys pulled off a trade for Williams right before the deadline, sending the New York Jets a hefty package in return.
Jaguars miss out on Quinnen Williams as Cowboys pull off blockbuster trade
It wasn’t a cheap deal. The Cowboys gave up a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to get Williams. The trade wasn’t the Jets’ first massive move of the day, as they seem to be giving up on this season to prepare for a full rebuild.
After New York gave up All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner earlier in the day, one thing was clear: the Jets were more than open to doing business, even for players thought to be untouchable. The Cowboys jumped on the opportunity by bringing in Williams, while the Jaguars missed out on a franchise-changing player.
Williams would have immediately slotted in as the focal point of the Jags’ run defense. After all, Arik Armstead is currently the only consistent option in the interior trenches. Along with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, the Pro Bowl nod would have helped form one of the most dangerous defensive fronts in the league. The strength of the defensive line would have made the team true contenders in an AFC that seems to be wide-open.
In the end, the price may have proved too high for the Jaguars. They already gave up their 2026 first-round pick to get Travis Hunter and multiple picks in the Meyers deal, so resources were scarce. With the apparent asking price the Jets held for their defensive tackle, the Jaguars would have been at a significant disadvantage in negotiations compared to Dallas.
Hopefully, Jacksonville’s weakness in run defense doesn’t end up derailing the rest of their season. If it does, they may be left wishing they had paid up for Williams.