ClutchPoints
The Dallas Cowboys made a big impact news-wise at the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline, even if some folks thought they were out of their minds. But here is why the Cowboys’ decision to trade for Quinnen Williams was a rousing success.
It’s surprising to hear nearly all of the so-called NFL experts whiff on this one. Time after time, they’ve said things like, “The Cowboys can’t make the playoffs.” Or “they gave up way too much.”
But these takes can both be wrong. And the second one could be laughably off base. Let’s dig into this.
First, let’s not give too much credit to Jerry Jones. He admitted he often stirs the pot, so to speak, just to keep the Cowboys “relevant.” And that’s probably a reason why some people think this trade was angled in that direction.
And we also need to consider what the Cowboys got in Williams. He may not be the player some people think he is, according to ESPN.
“Williams has one All-Pro nod in six seasons as a pro, as well as three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances,” Ben Solak wrote. “He’s a great player who, at his best, has been an absolute game-wrecker. His 2023 season, in which he had a pressure rate of 16.3%, remains the most disruptive pass-rush season for a defensive tackle in the Next Gen Stats database (since 2016).
“But like [Sauce] Gardner, Williams’ play has tailed off in recent years. He had a pressure rate of 12.0% in 2024 (still quite good) and 8.0% so far this season (quite bad). His time to pressure is also falling — 2.74 seconds in 2022 (his All-Pro season), 2.79 seconds the following year, then 3.02 and now 3.16.”
That’s fair. But let’s put all of those numbers in context text. Williams has been playing for a horrible team and organization. Winning isn’t expected. In fact, if you consider the offseason moves this year, it can easily be argued that losing has been the expectation.
Now, at age 27 and still in his prime, he goes to an organization where winning is not only expected, it’s demanded. In fact, it’s demanded even when it’s very unlikely to happen. For three decades, the expectation has been to win the Super Bowl, even though some teams had no shot.
This year is a prime example. Once the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons, they had almost no shot to win the Super Bowl. But fans, Jones, and experts still talked about the Cowboys as a threat.
Williams could be rejuvenated in this environment. He’s handled the pressure of the New York media. Could it be worse in Dallas? No. This could be a breath of fresh air for Williams.
Did they? Let’s look at this. What did the Cowboys give up for Williams? It’s entirely possible they gave up next to nothing.
Wait, they traded a second-round pick AND a first-round...
