Jets trade star DT Quinnen Williams to Cowboys

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Nov 4, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Hours after trading Sauce Gardner, the New York Jets also moved on from Quinnen Williams.

The Jets traded Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 second-round, a 2027 first-round draft pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

In 2019, the Jets drafted Williams third overall out of Alabama. During his time with the Green and White, Williams became one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro in 2022.

Williams, 28, was the Jets second-longest-tenured player, enduring six consecutive losing seasons since he was drafted, and likely would have been seventh given the Jets’ 1-7 record this year. In addition, Williams has had three different coaches and four defensive coordinators during that span. Now, he will reunite with Aaron Whitecotton, who is the current Cowboys defensive line coach and former Jets defensive line coach from 2021-24.

After finishing with a 5-12 record last season, the Jets released Aaron Rodgers after two seasons in February. Once the news broke, Williams voiced his displeasure on social media.

“Another rebuild year for me, I guess,” Williams posted with a thumbs-down emoji.

Williams later deleted the tweet and told reporters he regretted the post back in May.

“I definitely think it was an immature thing for me to do at the moment, out of emotion, out of frustration,” Williams said at the time. “I hadn’t talked to Aaron [Glenn] previously to that.”

Williams has made three consecutive Pro Bowls, and during that span, he has registered 183 tackles, 24 1/2 sacks and 38 tackles for loss. But his numbers have been down recently.

In 2024, Williams finished with 37 tackles and six sacks. This season, Williams has consistently been double and triple-teamed, which has limited his sack numbers. He has 32 tackles and one sack in eight games.

Trading Williams will add even more draft value for the Jets as coach Glenn and Darren Mougey continue to rebuild their roster. Now, the Jets will have two 2026 first-round picks and two 2026 second-round picks, courtesy of the Williams and Gardner trades. They will also have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft.

The Jets will save around $8 million this year by trading Williams. He is signed through 2027 and is scheduled to make $20.75 million in 2026 and $25.4 million in 2027.

Without Williams, the Jets’ starting defensive tackles will likely be Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, who were both acquired in August before the start of the season.

Smith also figures to be used as a rotational player on the Jets’ defensive line. Dallas drafted Smith 24th overall in 2024 and has 57 tackles and two sacks in 39 career games.

The Jets will have Smith under contract until after the 2026 season. He is scheduled to make $2.56 million next year.

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