FRISCO — Quarterback Dak Prescott said he was “pumped” after hearing about the trade for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa was also excited.
“Adds a lot of strength to our group,” he said.
The Cowboys on Tuesday made a blockbuster trade (Williams) and a smaller one (middle linebacker Logan Wilson), for now and the future.
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In getting Williams, the Cowboys gave the Jets a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-rounder along with disappointing defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Williams is a “difference-maker” according to coach Brian Schottenheimer. The defensive tackle is signed through 2027 with huge salaries of $20.7 million (2026) and $25.4 million (2027).
The Cowboys have nearly $130 million invested in base salaries for three defensive tackles through 2028. It shows the financial commitment to the position.
Kenny Clark, who was acquired in a trade for Micah Parsons, has an $11 million roster bonus due next March.
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) walks off the field with teammates before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Odighizuwa signed a four-year $80 million deal with $52 million in total guarantees this offseason. There’s a thought some of the contracts will be restructured to help with salary cap space. Williams’ contract won’t be restructured, a person with knowledge of the Cowboys’ thinking told The Dallas Morning News.
“We’ve played him a couple of times, just played him a couple of weeks ago,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s just a difference-maker, the ability to affect the interior part of the pocket from a pass rush standpoint.”
Williams can play in one-gap and two-gap schemes. He reminds defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a 6-7, 295-pounder whom the coach had in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In Eberflus’ desire to fix this defense, he’s using more five-man fronts in an attempt to get his interior players away from double-teams. It seemed to work wonders in the Monday night loss to Arizona.
“I think it’s going to be good to be free,” Odighizuwa said. “Definitely been getting double-teamed a lot. You now have a chance to be able to beat them.”
The 6-3, 303-pound Williams is a three-time Pro Bowler with one All-Pro on his resume. He beats double teams, he plays the run well and he’s just a force.
With the Jets doing a fire sale, it allowed the Cowboys to double back and get after Williams. Before the start of the season, team owner Jerry Jones attempted to trade for Williams by offering Parsons to the Jets.
He was rebuffed. But the losing wore on Williams, and with the Jets’ season going nowhere, an opportunity was presented to the Cowboys.
“I think anytime you get a chance to add a guy like Quinnen to your team, you’re crazy if you don’t do it,” Schottenheimer said.
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The smaller of the deals might have a major impact as well. The Cowboys acquired Wilson from the Bengals for a 2026 seventh-round pick. Wilson is a middle linebacker and should become the starter once he gets familiar with the defensive scheme. You can pair Wilson with Kenneth Murray in nickel packages. Or guess what? Once DeMarvion Overshown returns from his knee injury, which is expected for Nov. 17 at the Raiders, then you’ve got something good.
Wilson requested a trade after he was benched for rookie Barrett Carter in a youth movement for the Bengals. Wilson was told the benching wasn’t performance-based.
The Bengals had several offers for Wilson, including one deal where a team wanted a pick swap with the linebacker.
This just seemed to be a better deal.
“A tough goodbye,” Wilson said of the trade, something that he expected. “Ready for a fresh start.”
Wilson is signed through 2027, so he’s not going anywhere.
These trades don’t get the Cowboys into the postseason. It doesn’t even let them knock on the door to step into the room with teams in the hunt.
But it gives them a chance to make something of their season especially with some injured players expected to return from injuries after the bye week.
If anything, the trade deadline deals give the Cowboys hope for the future that they’ve solved some problems on their defense.
“It’s exciting, kudos to Jerry and Stephen and Will for being aggressive and smart,” Schottenheimer said of Jerry and Stephen Jones and Will McClay. “Because a couple of moves we made, we’re getting guys, not just for this year, but beyond, which I think is great.”
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