The NFL trade deadline proved to finally live up to the hype for Dallas Cowboys fans after plenty of years where no major deals happened despite a plethora of rumors. Reinforcements are coming for the struggling Dallas defense but there is a cost.
The Cowboys surprised the NFL world by striking a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Dallas is sending a first rounder (2027) and second-round pick (2026) to New York. Additionally, former first-round pick Mazi Smith is heading to New York as part of the deal, per DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker.
Despite being a former highly touted player, Smith had fallen out of favor in Big D, becoming a healthy scratch on multiple occasions this season.
Here’s a look at the latest Cowboys news amid a busy NFL trade deadline.
Prior to the Trade, Mazi Smith Only Played in 5 of the Cowboys’ 1st 9 Games in 2025
Smith is on a four-year, $13 million rookie contract that is slated to run through the 2026 season. After starting all 17 games for Dallas in 2025, Smith only appeared in five of the Cowboys’ first nine games prior to the deal.
Smith played sparingly when he did suit up and was often a healthy inactive on gameday. Ultimately, it was Smith’s lack of consistency that had the defender falling out of favor with the Cowboys.
New Jets DT Mazi Smith Earned a Disappointing 46.6 Grade From PFF With the Cowboys in 2025
Even when Smith did play, the defensive tackle struggled to make an impact. Pro Football Focus gave Smith an underwhelming 46.4 grade (out of 100) for his play this season prior to the trade. Perhaps a change of scenery will help Smith jumpstart his NFL career with the Jets.
“I had a great conversation with Mazi, just about the consistency,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted on September 6, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Mazi is going to play a lot of really good football.
“He’s not even begun to reach his peak. But the consistency has not been there and therefore, if your philosophy is (to) compete every day, then that’s what you have to do, make those decisions.”
The Cowboys Finally Land Their Big Fish in Blockbuster Trade With the Jets for Quinnen Williams
The Cowboys have been searching for a big fish since the team’s surprising preseason trade with the Green Bay Packers for Micah Parsons. While not in recent weeks, there had been rumors about the Cowboys being interested in Williams.
Deadlines make deals as the Cowboys and Jets were able to strike a blockbuster trade in the final hours of the NFL deadline. Williams is on a four-year, $96 million contract with Dallas. The deal is slated to go through the 2027 season as Williams’ cap hit jumps up to $21.7 million and $25.5 million in the final two years of the contract, per Spotrac.
Dallas began the NFL trade deadline by acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson in a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cowboys made an even bigger splash by acquiring Williams, while Smith gets a fresh start in the AFC.
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