Quinnen Williams trade winners, losers as d-lineman goes to ‘Big D’

The New York Jets traded defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys.
In exchange for Williams, the Jets received a 2026 first-round pick, a second-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones has now acquired multiple defensive linemen after trading away Micah Parsons before the season started.

The blockbusters of the 2025 NFL trade deadline, at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 4, came courtesy of the New York Jets.

Blockbusters – plural.

The 1-7 Jets, under first-year general manager Darren Mougey, parted with assets to acquire a plethora of draft picks. First, they traded Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of first-round selections and wide receiver AD Mitchell. Next, Mougey sent defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 first-round pick, defensive tackle Mazi Smith and a second-round pick.

Let’s dissect the winners and losers from the second trade, which gives Dallas a new anchor of a revamped defensive line.

WINNERS

Jerry Jones

Say what you want about the Cowboys owner but he talks the talk and walks the walk. Do I believe him when he says he has a secret deal? Not even a little. But then a deadline deal to bring in a three-time Pro Bowl anchor of a defensive line comes along and it gives me pause.

Did the man have this up his sleeve the whole time?

The original sin of trading Micah Parsons in August tarnishes everything, though. Nonetheless, he turned Parsons into Kenny Clark, Williams and a first-round pick (the latter one between theirs and the Packers, with the earlier one going to the Jets). If he wanted to rebuild the interior of the line? Well, mission success. Nobody ever doubted that he’d accomplish his main goal – winning the headlines – but to have it pay off on the roster definitely helps.

P.S. I’ll spare Jerry from inclusion in the “losers” section below but if we’re going to sing praises, we also need to point out the complete flaw in his logic. That defense, as evidenced by a prime-time loss, is arguably the NFL’s worst. The personnel moves in a vacuum compared to their on-field results are unimpressive.

Quinnen Williams

Williams, a 2022 first-team All-Pro who has made three straight Pro Bowls, gets a fresh start with two years left on his current deal. The Jets were 33-75 during his time with the team and never made the playoffs. The Cowboys’ prospects for this season aren’t much better when it comes to the postseason but not slogging through another rebuild has to be a welcomed opportunity for the Alabama native.

Darren Mougey

The Jets currently have two first-round picks in 2026, three first-round picks in 2027, and two second-round picks next year. For a team that is bottoming out, it’s an enviable position to be in. Nailing the picks is on his shoulders, though. There’s also plenty of capital to acquire a franchise quarterback in any way.

Cowboys D-line

Williams falls into the category of player who commands a double team from the opposing offensive line. Opportunities galore for the rest of the unit, which includes Donovan Ezeiruaku, Osa Odighizuwa and Sam Williams.

Their new teammate is entering his prime and won’t turn 28 until the end of this season.

Micah Parsons

Parsons will always be linked to Williams now, given the proximity of their respective departure and entrance. Yes Parsons plays a more premium position, but he also makes nearly $20 million more per year. He’s the one on an actual contender – inconsistent as the Packers play sometimes – and has escaped the cauldron of controversy that is being a star on the Cowboys.

Drake Maye and Josh Allen

They no longer have to see No. 95 in green twice a year for what would have been at least the next four years (technically five for Maye since the Jets and Pats have not yet played in 2025). The other AFC East QB, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, doesn’t make the list because of his undetermined future in South Beach.

LOSERS

Aaron Glenn

The Jets’ first-year head coach won’t have a monster in the middle to aid his rebuild effort. Then again, Glenn might not be long for his current job.

Jermaine Johnson II

The edge rusher was considered a player who could have been moved ahead of the deadline but instead saw two teammates on his side of the ball shipped out to greener pastures.

Cowboys scouting department

Having two picks in the first round next year would have raised the stakes immensely at “The Star.” Back to one. Cutting bait on Smith also not a sign of proficient past performance.