Cowboys land Quinnen Williams in trade with Jets

The Dallas Cowboys acquired star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets, the team announced.

New York will receive a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round selection, and former first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith as part of the deal.

The Jets have stolen headlines as the biggest seller at the trade deadline. They now have five first-round picks in the next two NFL drafts after netting two additional Round 1 choices from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for star cornerback Sauce Gardner earlier Tuesday.

Dallas had extra first-round selections as a result of the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers in August. The Jets will receive the higher of the Cowboys' two 2027 Round 1 picks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Williams is signed through the 2027 season after inking a four-year, $96-million extension in '23.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in September that he reached out to the Jets during the offseason to suggest a potential move that would send Parsons to New York and Williams to Dallas along with draft capital.

Williams has established himself as one of the NFL's best interior linemen since the Jets drafted him third overall in 2019. The 27-year-old earned a first-team All-Pro berth in 2022 after topping double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.

The Alabama product has racked up 32 tackles (seven for loss), three quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and one sack through eight games in 2025. He collected 40 sacks in 98 appearances with New York.

The Cowboys have major defensive issues this season and fell to 3-5-1 after Monday's home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. However, Williams should be a great fit in Dallas alongside Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, among others.

Bolstering the defensive line has long been a priority for the Cowboys, who used the 26th overall pick on Smith in 2023. The Michigan standout, however, hasn't lived up to the hype, registering two sacks in two-plus seasons in Dallas. He was a healthy scratch in multiple games this year.