The Dallas Cowboys’ trade for New York Jets’ star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has ignited fierce debate among sports media and fans. Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, surprised the NFL world by making the deal despite the Cowboys’ subpar 3-5-3 record before the NFL trade deadline. The move has prompted sharp criticism, with prominent sports analysts questioning the strategic value of the trade.
The Cowboys traded their first-round draft pick, acquired from the Green Bay Packers in the Micah Parsons trade, along with a 2026 second-round pick and tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Williams. This blockbuster trade has drawn significant backlash, particularly from Bill Simmons, who called it ‘bonkers.’ Simmons highlighted the absurdity of the decision, noting that the Cowboys have little chance to make the playoffs with their current record and defensive vulnerabilities.
Jones hinted at having a trade in the works before the Cowboys’ ‘Monday Night Football’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a team on a five-game losing streak. Although it’s unclear if this trade was the one he referenced, it was a major deal that added to a busy trading day for the Jets, who also traded All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks.
Simmons’ critique of the Cowboys’ chances to make the playoffs was not limited to their defense. With the Cowboys’ offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, ranking fourth in points scored per game and third in total yards, the team’s offensive success under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer contrasts sharply with the defensive struggles under Matt Eberflus. While Williams is an upgrade on the defensive line, the Cowboys still require help on the edge and in the secondary, needs that weren’t addressed in the trade.
Other sports commentators, like FOX Sports’ Nick Wright, have also criticized the decision, calling it ‘insanity by Dallas.’ Wright argued that the Cowboys gave up potentially 90% of the value they received for Micah Parsons, a rookie who is performing well with the Packers. The trade effectively eliminates the 2027 first-round pick they received in the Parsons trade, now combined with the Williams trade, leaving the Cowboys with Williams, Clark, and a first-round pick for next year in exchange for Parsons, a 2026 second-round pick, and Smith.