FRISCO, Texas – It was a busy day for the Cowboys on Tuesday, as the team made two moves at the NFL trade deadline to acquire DT Quinnen Williams and LB Logan Wilson to help bolster the defense.
All in all, it was a day that provided a jolt of excitement and energy for Dallas as they look to rebound from their 3-5-1 start to the season in the back half of the year following the upcoming bye week.
"It's exciting," Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said of Dallas' trades. "Kudos to Jerry and Stephen, Will, being aggressive but then smart. A couple of moves we made, you're getting guys not just for this year but beyond, which I think is great… I think it's two terrific players, but also terrific young men."
The addition of Williams from the New York Jets, in which Dallas sent a 2026 second-round pick, the better of their two 2027 first-round picks and DT Mazi Smith for, was one that radiated in the building and across the league. Quarterback Dak Prescott was candid with his level of excitement.
"I'm f*ing pumped." Prescott told reporters about the addition of Williams.
Williams will join a defensive front that the Cowboys have invested a lot into recently. They signed Osa Odgihizuwa to an extension and acquired Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade, but Williams' addition is a welcome one for his new teammates.
"I think it's just going to add more playmaking ability to the d-line," Odighizuwa said. "Another bullet in the gun. Another bullet in the gun, another very strong and talented guy, so I think we'll be able to use him…"
"I'm excited, another guy that's going to help us win."
One reason why Odighizuwa and the rest of the defensive front can look forward to Williams joining the lineup? How much he can open up for them and provide more one-on-one opportunities, especially if the Cowboys shift to using five-down fronts more going forward like they did on Monday night against the Cardinals.
"I hope so. I like it…" Odighizuwa said when asked about Dallas' usage of five-man fronts. "A lot of double teams are created when there's four down, so when you have five of us in there, it creates a lot more one-on-ones and a lot more opportunities for guys up front to make plays. So having a guy like [Williams] come in and then potentially being able to use more five-down stuff, that'll be awesome."
Odighizuwa wasn't the only defensive lineman that was fired up to hear about the news of Williams' addition.
"When I saw that we got Quinnen Williams, it just made me ecstatic because I just realize that it's a blessing for me," Cowboys DT Perrion Winfrey said. "Not only am I able to be with Osa and Kenny, now we've got Quinnen Williams to learn from. That's a blessing."
In Schottenheimer's eyes, the word that comes to mind for what Williams can do for his defense is disruption.
"He's just a difference maker," Schottenheimer said. "The ability to affect the interior part of the pocket from a pass rush standpoint… very disruptive. For us, there's certain calls you make and you're aware of when he's in the game because he's just so disruptive."
Who else could benefit from Williams being up front? The Cowboys' linebacker core, which also made a move to improve by adding Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals.
For the last few weeks, Schottenheimer has mentioned Dallas' eye discipline being a reason why they're struggling defensively, with the linebacking unit being an area that needed to improve in that department. In Wilson, Schottenheimer believes they do.
"It's actually the number one thing when you watch his film is how quick he dissects plays and how quickly he sees tells and he reads his triangle," Schottenheimer said. "It's one of the best things he does and he's got the athleticism to get there, so it jumps off the film."
Wilson, who met with the media on Tuesday night, is ready for his fresh start in Dallas. How much of a plus is this fresh start when a player like Williams gets inserted to play in front of him and potentially make things easier in the run game?
"I don't know much about the guy, I just know he's an incredible player," Wilson said. "To be able to play behind him is gonna be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to it."
Their first chance to do so will come following Dallas' upcoming bye week and in Las Vegas against the Raiders on Nov. 17, giving both Williams and Wilson time to acclimate themselves with the Cowboys' playbook and their new teammates.
