Since the New York Jets traded him to the Dallas Cowboys, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has seen a noticeable uptick in his production.
Williams has always been regarded as one of the league’s top interior linemen, but his numbers have climbed in Dallas. His 26 total pressures in four games with the Cowboys already surpass the 19 he recorded over eight games with the Jets earlier this season.
Speaking with “NFL on Prime” ahead of Dallas’ Thursday night matchup against the Detroit Lions, Williams discussed what has contributed to the improvement and how the move has helped his game.
“The guys next to me, man,” said Williams. “You got Kenny Clark, Osa [Odighizuwa], young rookie Eze [Donovan Ezeiruaku], Dante Fowler, Jadeveon Clowney, I mean, all the guys make it easier for me, just to do my job on the field. It’s super fun to be able to play with those guys.”
On NFL trade deadline day, the Jets sent Williams to the Cowboys in a deal that returned a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-rounder, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith — an essential throw-in who has been a healthy scratch for New York the past two weeks.
SNY’s Connor Hughes later reported that the relationship between Williams and the Jets had “deteriorated,” and that the former No. 3 overall pick had requested a trade multiple times before he was ultimately moved to Dallas.
And while Williams has thrived with the Cowboys, it’s hard to fault general manager Darren Mougey for pulling the trigger, especially given the value he brought back in return.
