Jerry Jones seemed unfazed by the Dallas Cowboys’ lackluster 3-5-1 record ahead of the NFL trade deadline, opting to make a significant move instead.
On Tuesday, just before 4 p.m. ET, the Cowboys traded a first-round draft pick acquired from the Micah Parsons deal with the Green Bay Packers to secure New York Jets star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. In addition, Dallas included a 2026 second-round pick and fellow tackle Maji Smith in the negotiations.
This decision caught many, including sports commentator Bill Simmons, off guard. Simmons expressed his surprise bluntly, stating the Cowboys were making a questionable move at best.
Simmons remarked, “Dallas is drunk. This is one of the worst… this Dallas trade is outrageous. If I were a Cowboys fan, my head would be spinning 360 degrees. You’re 3-5-1. You have no chance of doing anything in the playoffs. What are you doing?”
Interestingly, Jones alluded to possible changes before the Cowboys suffered a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on “Monday Night Football.” Whether the Williams trade was part of that contemplation remains uncertain, but it certainly added to a hectic day for New York.
The Jets also made waves by trading All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, netting two first-round picks in return.
When Simmons said the Cowboys “don’t have a chance” for playoff success, it likely wasn’t about their offense. Clearly, Dallas is in dire need of defensive improvements, as they rank 31st in yards allowed per game (397.4) and points allowed per game (30.8).
It’s worth noting that while quarterback Dak Prescott leads an offense scoring an impressive 29.2 points per game, the defense, overseen by coach Matt Eberflus, has struggled significantly. Williams may strengthen the defensive line, but the Cowboys still have urgent needs on the edge and in the secondary, which went unaddressed as the deadline passed.
Simmons wasn’t alone in his skepticism about the trade; Nick Wright from FOX Sports described it as “Dallas Madness,” questioning the value surrendered by the Cowboys. “They may have given up 90% of what they got for Micah Parsons,” Wright stated.
While it’s clear that the Cowboys could greatly benefit from Parsons right now—especially as he thrives with the Packers—the Williams trade has complicated their draft capital. It essentially means losing a 2026 first-round pick and a future asset from the Kenny Clark trade.
When weighed against the two trades, the Cowboys ended up with Williams, Clark, and a first-round pick next year in exchange for Parsons and Smith, along with a 2026 second-round selection.
