Quinnen Willliams trade grades: Cowboys rope beefy DT to bolster defense, while Jets whiff again

Quinnen Williams is the latest member of the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Cowboys made the big defensive move as expected at the trade deadline, with Jerry Jones taking advantage of the Jets wanting to get rid of big salaries and talent to match. New York continued its fire sale, moving Williams just after sending star CB Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. 

For Dallas, the Williams acquisition comes on the heels of the team's move to bring in Bengals LB Logan Wilson early Tuesday morning. 

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Here's a breakdown of Dallas' acquisition of Williams from both perspectives:

Quinnen Williams trade grades

Cowboys receive:

• DT Quinnen Williams

Jets receive:

• 2026 second-round draft pick
• 2027 first-round draft pick
• DT Mazi Smith

MORE: Why Jets decided to move Quinnen Williams to Cowboys

Quinnen Williams trade grades

Cowboys grade: A

The Cowboys needed to make a big splash for an impact inside disruptor with their defensive line woes vs. run and pass and Williams fills two needed bills. The Cowboys gave up only future considerations to get a transcendent with the goal of a long-term star helping them.

MORE: How Quinnen Williams fits into Cowboys defense

Jets grade: C

The Jets didn't seem too keen on keeping another key defensive stalwart after moving cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts. The fire sale is real as they try to move remnants of a past dominant defense under Robert Saleh and others.

Williams might have been a bit smarter in terms of cap savings and the return makes a little more sense overall than what they got for Gardner.

MORE: How many draft picks Jets have stacked up on trade deadline day