Blogging The Boys
Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season.
The Dallas Cowboys are a team notorious for being risk-averse and reluctant to make trades. However, something has gotten into Jerry Jones and the front office this year. First, the Cowboys made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire wide receiver George Pickens, and that has worked tremendously so far this season. Then, after a much-publicized contract negotiation, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
With Tuesday’s trade deadline, there was some expectation that, given how the season had gone so far, Jones might be done making deals. Yet, quite brazenly, Jones announced on Monday that a trade had already been done, which proved to be former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson joining the team for a seventh-round draft pick. Enough to raise a shrug of the shoulder and maybe raise an eyebrow, but nothing like the trade that caught everyone by storm.
Dallas sent a package that included a first-round pick and Mazi Smith to the New York Jets in exchange for Quinnen Williams. It’s a shocking and exciting change of course for the Cowboys that nets them one of the NFL’s best interior defenders and secures him in Dallas for the foreseeable future. As fortunate as the Cowboys are to have Williams’ services, there are still some questions to ponder in the trade’s aftermath. Here are ten burning questions following the Quinnen Williams trade.
1. Whose idea was this?
While we know how important it is for Jerry Jones to receive the credit, who decided that it was Williams as the player the team needed to zero in on and use some of their surplus of assets? Cowboys COO Stephen Jones has developed a reputation for saving every penny possible; therefore, it’s hard to envision him being the driving force behind this acquisition. Did Will McClay review the roster and decide that there was no saving the defensive interior, and something had to be done? Or did this come from coach Brian Schottenheimer? Being a first-year head coach, Schottenheimer has a lot to prove and has seen how dominant his offense can be, but was shackled to a defense that practically nullifies the impact of his offense. Whoever decided this was the right call, it’s refreshing to see the team identify a problem and find the best solution with the resources afforded to them.
2. Who won the trade?
That depends on the objective for both clubs. The New York Jets are all but mathematically eliminated. At 1-7, and with questions surrounding the direction of their future, the Jets decided that leaning into their rebuild was the better option. Getting...
