Why Jets made trading Quinnen Williams to Cowboys part of roster rebuild

The 1-7 New York Jets basically punted on the remainder of the 2025 season when they agreed to trade cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two first-round draft picks and out-of-favor wide receiver Adonai "AD" Mitchell. 

Not long after word of that trade went public, NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY reported that the Jets were sending defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for the Cowboys' first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2026 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

Why Jets traded Quinnen Williams this fall

Back in February, Williams made it known via social media that he wasn't pleased with the Jets' decision to move on from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. According to Hughes, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn "discussed Williams’ comments with him both privately and publicly at the NFL Combine." However, the relationship involving Williams and the Jets went from bad to worse after the club rejected his request to rework a contract that has just $5M remaining in guaranteed salary after this season. 

Hughes said that the Jets entering their bye at 1-7 resulted in Williams informing people close to him that "he wanted a fresh start and had little interest in working toward an extension" with the AFC East side. In the end, Williams ended up with a Cowboys team in desperate need of defensive help. 

"His preferred destination was the Cowboys — a feeling that, clearly, was mutual," Hughes added about Williams. 

Trade deadline moves send messages to Jets players, fans

Before news of the Williams trade went public, Hughes said that the Gardner deal sent "a message out there" that "everybody is on the table for the Jets." Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey now possess the type of assets needed for the Jets to land an advertised franchise quarterback via an upcoming draft class or a future trade: