NFL news: Bill Simmons calls Cowboys’ Quinnen Williams trade ‘bonkers’
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Jerry Jones didn’t care much about what the Dallas Cowboys’ 3-5-1 record meant before the NFL trade deadline; He made a deal anyway.
The Cowboys used one of the first-round draft picks they acquired in the Micah Parsons trade with the Green Bay Packers to acquire star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets before 4pm ET on Tuesday. Dallas also sent Mazi Smith along with a 2026 second-round draft pick in the deal.
It was a move that surprised some in the industry, especially Bill Simmons, who was outspoken after seeing the Cowboys become hot sellers before the deadline.
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New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (95) before the game against the Buffalo Bills on September 14, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
“Dallas is drunk,” Simmons said bluntly. “This is one of the worst trades… This Dallas trade is crazy. If I were a Cowboys fan, my head would be doing 360s. You’re 3-5-1. You have no chance of doing anything in the playoffs. What are you doing?”
Jones even hinted that he would trade the cover before the Cowboys’ “Monday Night Football” loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who were on a five-game losing streak. It’s unknown if it was the Williams trade he was referring to, but it was a big enough deal to add up to a blockbuster day for New York.
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The Jets also traded All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks.
Given Simmons’ view that the Cowboys “have no chance of doing anything in the playoffs,” he probably isn’t referring to the team’s offense. It’s no secret that Dallas needs defensive help, as the Cowboys rank 31st in yards allowed per game (397.4) and points allowed per game (30.8).
The latter statistic is a standout considering the Cowboys’ offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, ranks fourth in points scored per game (29.2) and third in total yards (378.4). It’s a successful team for first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but Matt Eberflus’ defense is extremely porous.
While Williams is an improvement on the defensive line, the Cowboys still need help on the perimeter and in the secondary; needs not addressed before the deadline.
Simmons wasn’t the only sports talker who believed the Cowboys made the wrong move by bringing in Williams, as FOX Sports’ Nick Wright called it “Dallas madness.”
“They gave up potentially 90% of what they had for Micah Parsons,” Wright added.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones watches before the game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
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It goes without saying how much the Cowboys could benefit from Parsons right now, but he is having a good first season with the Packers. Williams’ deal eliminates the 2027 first-round pick acquired in the trade, and the trade also brings in the 2026 first-round pick and Kenny Clark.
So, combining these two trades, the Cowboys are keeping Williams, Clark and a first-round pick next year in exchange for Parsons, a 2026 second-round pick and Smith.
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