OXNARD, Calif. — Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Dallas Cowboys never approached the November trade for Quinnen Williams as a two-season arrangement. Jones made the comments to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com on Monday, hours after Dallas announced it had agreed to terms with Williams on a three-year, $105.9 million extension.
The new years sit on top of the two seasons already on the contract rather than replacing them, which puts Williams under contract in Dallas through 2030.
Stephen Jones On What The Dallas Cowboys Gave Up For Quinnen Williams
Dallas acquired Williams from the New York Jets on Nov. 4, 2025, for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 2026 selection became No. 44 overall. The 2027 pick was one of two first-rounders Dallas had received from the Green Bay Packers in the Aug. 28, 2025 trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay.
Williams had two years left on his contract at the time of the trade. He was scheduled to earn $21.75 million in 2026, and $25.5 million in 2027, and the guaranteed money inside that deal was set to run out after this season.
Jones said the picks and the player Dallas sent to New York amount to a large share of resources committed to one man.
“When you make a trade like that, you’re not looking for one- and two-year fixes,” Jones said. “You want to get some things that are the foundation of your future. Certainly, now that solidifies that that he’s a part of our foundation here for the next five years. Certainly seeing that be the case with more of these guys, but obviously we gave up a two and a one to get him. That’s a big chunk of resources to put towards one player and to have him locked up for five years is a big deal.”
Williams started all 7 games he played after the trade. He finished with 21 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits, and 1 interception, and he played 65% of the defensive snaps over that stretch.
Stephen Jones On Quinnen Williams As A Leader
Williams was the third overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Alabama. He has been named to four Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2022. Across both teams in 2025, he recorded 53 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles in 15 games.
Jones said evaluations of Williams around the league ranged from the best defensive tackle in football to third at the position.
“He’s a great, great football player,” Jones said. “Obviously one of the best depending on which one you look at, I know some people had him the best tackle in the NFL, some people had him three. He’s a great football player. But then on top of that, he’s just such an amazing individual. He’s a great man off the field and he’s a leader. He’s a leader in that room, he’s a leader of the defense. When you put all three of those things together, it makes a big difference.”
Williams is part of the Cowboys’ leadership council in 2026. He joined a defense that allowed 30.1 points per game in 2025, last in the NFL, and that is now under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Williams said earlier in camp that he wanted to stay in Dallas long term. Jones said what Williams did in Oxnard told him more than what Williams said at the podium.
“I think that’s the case more times than not, maybe I’m naïve, but I do think it’s the case more times than not that players want to play here, they want to be here,” Jones said. “They really embrace the organization. Certainly it’s great to see it, and certainly his actions spoke louder than words.”
The Cowboys hold a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. Dallas opens the preseason at the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Aug. 15, with kickoff at 7 p.m. CT on NFL Network.
