Jerry Jones has broken promises before, so Dallas Cowboys fans didn't expect any fireworks before Tuesday's trade deadline. While at least one trade was likely to happen, fans' expectations were set at a Jonathan Mingo-esque move that Jones would spin as "improving" the defense.
When the dust settled, Jones somehow reeled in one of the best defensive players in the NFL in Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who has made three straight Pro Bowls and is on pace to make it four this season.
ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that the Cowboys tried to land Williams all day before the 3 p.m. CT deadline. He was the player they wanted, but a new report from insider Jordan Schultz claims that the Jacksonville Jaguars (?) were among the other teams that were involved in the Williams sweepstakes.
"The Jaguars were active in exploring a trade for DT Quinnen Williams before he was dealt to Dallas," Schultz reported. "New York ultimately made the deal with the Cowboys, but Jacksonville made a 'strong push' and it wasn’t for a lack of trying."
Cowboys would've never lived down losing Quinnen Williams to the Jaguars
It took a lot for Dallas to land Williams: a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and fellow DT Mazi Smith, a former first-round pick who had fallen out of favor with the Cowboys. It's hardly an overpay, largely because it's a huge step in fixing a defense that is leaking oil all over the place.
If Jerry Jones upped his offer after hearing that the Jaguars and other teams were involved, then so be it. You can't let a second-round pick get in the way of adding a force multiplier to one of the worst defenses in franchise history.
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A first-round pick and a second-round pick are a lot to pay, but context matters. The Cowboys managed to keep both of their 2026 first-round picks. The 2027 first will be whichever team -- Dallas or Green Bay -- has the higher pick. And let's not lose sleep over the Cowboys jettisoning their second-round pick next year. They have been dreadful at drafting in round two.
While Donovan Ezeiruaku looks like a building block on the edge, Dallas' recent second-round history includes Luke Schoonmaker, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, and Kelvin Joseph. That's five consecutive underwhelming selections, including four on the defensive side. Trevon Diggs is the Cowboys' last successful second-round pick, way back in 2020.
The national media hate every move Jerry Jones makes, but the Cowboys never would've lived down losing Williams to the Jaguars. While Jacksonville is 5-3 this season and has a recent penchant for paying a premium in trades, Dallas is far more desperate to improve its defense. And we say that knowing the trade was made more for 2026 and '27 than this season.
Coming off an ugly loss to the Cardinals, getting outbid for Quinnen Williams by the Jaguars might’ve been the final straw for Cowboys fans this season.