Cowboys' unsung hero is the real MVP of blockbuster Quinnen Williams trade

The Dallas Cowboys made the most of the NFL trade deadline, bolstering their defense in a big way via the acquisition of New York Jets superstar defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

It cost a pretty penny for Jerry Jones to pull this deal off. A first-round bust in Mazi Smith, who the 'Boys somehow convinced Gang Green to take off their hands. Then it was a 2026 second-round selection, and a Round 1 pick in 2027.

In a perfect Jerry World, there's no reality in which Dallas is drafting high in the next couple of years. Jones put his full faith in Dak Prescott, doing all he could to maximize the franchise quarterback's Super Bowl window in the midst of a massive contract.

But there's a real MVP to the Williams trade, and I'll give you a hint: It ain't Micah Parsons.

Donovan Ezeiruaku freed up Cowboys to splurge Micah Parsons assets on Quinnen Williams trade

Part of the reason the Cowboys could offer more to the Jets than anyone else for Quinnen Williams was their previous splashy trade, when they sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

Here's what the updated compensation looks like in the wake of the Williams trade.

Alleged ESPN NFL guru Seth Walder hates the trade for Dallas.

I say "alleged" in jest. Walder worked hard to reach the seat he sits in I'm sure. He's also far from the only one bashing this deal. The prevailing line of thought is that the Cowboys overpaid to a massive degree for Williams, and didn't make the most of the assets they gained for Parsons.

Viewing the two trades in a vacuum, I would agree, but do people not realize the real MVP in play here?

His name is Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku. Per my colleague Marcus Mosher, the rookie second-rounder out of Boston College has four straight games where his pass rush win rate is over 20%. That's elite by any standard.

Have a think on how good this Dallas defensive line could be when you combine Ezeiruaku's emergence with Williams' formidable presence in the mix.

Not to say that this 3-5-1 Cowboys team can for sure rally hard enough to make the playoffs. They visit the Raiders for a Monday night matchup in Week 11 before games against the Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions. Rough stretch there.

Put aside this season for a second. We're talking bigger-picture here. How don't more people see that Ezeiruaku can at least somewhat emulate Parsons' impact, and therefore the so-called "overpay" for an elite defensive tackle in Williams is fully justified?

Dallas is both improving a putrid, 31st-ranked defense now and setting the stage for success through the remainder of Prescott's mega deal. It's all possible thanks to Ezeiruaku, whose lightning-fast first step, exotic bend around the edge, and ability to generate quick pressure as a result suggest his best is yet to come.

Ezeiruaku is indeed still finding his sea legs in the NFL. Imagine what he could be by Year 2, especially with a stud on the interior like Williams to occupy so much attention. Feels like the sky's the limit for Ezeiruaku going forward given his rapidly ascending trajectory.

That's why Donovan Ezeiruaku is the real MVP of the Quinnen Williams trade. If he wasn't such a home run draft pick — easily the team's best second-rounder since Trevon Diggs in 2020 — the Cowboys likely wouldn't have felt so emboldened to acquire Williams in the first place.

In the midst of witnessing such a bad overall defensive unit, Dallas' personnel department saw a legit piece in Ezeiraku worth aggressively building around. Now watch what happens when he's paired with Williams. Should be some fireworks on that side of the ball at AT&T Stadium and plenty of parties in the backfield for years to come.