https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/cowboys-reportedly-acquire-quinnen-williams-from-jets-for-first-round-pick-in-blockbuster-deal-191025670.html
The New York Jets appear to be tearing it all down on trade deadline day. Shortly after dealing star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, the team also traded three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Jets will receive two draft picks and a player in exchange for Williams, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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The full compensation for Williams reportedly includes:
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A 2026 second-round pick (from the Cowboys)
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A 2027 first-round pick (either the Cowboys’ pick or the Packers’ pick, whichever is better)
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DL Mazi Smith (from the Cowboys)
The Cowboys owned two 2027 first-round picks after the team traded star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in August. The team will reportedly send whichever pick is better — or closer to the top of the draft — to the Jets when that information is known.
Smith, 24, was the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2023. He started all 17 games with the team last season before being moved into a reserve role this year.
Williams, like Gardner, was widely considered one of the best players on the Jets’ roster. After being selected by the Jets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Williams eventually developed into one of the best defensive linemen in the game.
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Following a slow rookie season, in which Williams started nine games, he blossomed into the team’s full-time starter, registering 13 sacks over his second and third year in the NFL. Williams received national recognition in 2022, when he picked up 12 sacks, made his first Pro Bowl and was elected to the All-Pro team. He continued to play at a high level in both 2023 and 2024, making the Pro Bowl both years.
Williams is once again off to a strong start this season, with 32 tackles and three forced fumbles in eight games.
The Jets made the move despite signing Williams to a four-year, $96 million extension ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Because of that extension, the Cowboys will have Williams through the 2027 season, giving them multiple chances to win with the star lineman.
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It’s the second move made by the Cowboys on Tuesday aimed at improving the team’s defense. The Cowboys also acquired Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson for a 2026 seventh-round pick Tuesday morning. Wilson is in the midst of a down year by his standards, but has performed better than any Cowboys starting linebacker this season. The Cowboys are allowing 30.8 points per game in 2025, good for 31st in the NFL.
Thanks to the team’s poor defense, the Cowboys find themselves sitting at 3-5-1 after nine weeks. Team owner Jerry Jones spoke Tuesday about his urgency to build a winner, which may have inspired Jones to leverage future assets for Williams and Wilson.
While the cost for Williams was high, the team does have control over the former All-Pro for at least two more full seasons. If the Cowboys fail to right the ship following an active trade deadline Tuesday, Williams can still be a key member of the team’s core moving forward.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/cowboys-reportedly-acquire-quinnen-williams-from-jets-for-first-round-pick-in-blockbuster-deal-191025670.html
