The Dallas Cowboys made two key defensive acquisitions on the 2025 NFL trade deadline, acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets and linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals. These moves aim to address a struggling unit that has allowed 30.8 points per game through nine weeks. The trades come as Dallas sits at 3-5-1, seeking to salvage their playoff hopes.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys executed blockbuster trades to reinforce their porous defense ahead of the NFL's 4 p.m. ET deadline. In the headline deal, Dallas sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the New York Jets for three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. The 27-year-old Williams, selected third overall in 2019, is under contract through 2027 and brings elite pass-rush and run-defense grades, joining recently acquired Kenny Clark on the interior line alongside Donovan Ezeiruaku and Dante Fowler.
Earlier in the day, the Cowboys added depth at linebacker by trading a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Bengals for Logan Wilson. The veteran, a 2025 team captain in Cincinnati, had requested a trade after a reduced role, playing more on special teams amid the team's push for rookies. Wilson ranks third among linebackers in pass-rushing grade this season per Pro Football Focus and could help pressure quarterbacks for Dallas.
The Cowboys' defense ranks near the bottom of the league, allowing 6.1 yards per play (third-highest), 7.7 yards per pass attempt (third-highest), 397.4 total yards per game (second-most), and 254.4 passing yards per game (third-most). No NFL team has ever made the playoffs surrendering 30 or more points per game, putting Dallas' +1000 playoff odds at DraftKings under pressure. These additions build on a preseason trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for Clark and two first-round picks, effectively netting Williams and an upgraded draft position.
For the Jets, the Williams deal caps a fire-sale day, also including trading All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks, amassing four high-value selections for future building. The Bengals, with the NFL's worst defense (6.4 yards per play allowed, 33.3 points per game), received minimal return for Wilson but fulfilled his request. Analysts grade the Cowboys' moves a B-, praising the upgrades but questioning if they're too late for a turnaround.
