Chaos and one desperate gamble

2025 has been tumultuous for the Cowboys. Again, it started with the trade of star pass-rusher Micah Parsons following his contract holdout. Now, it has culminated in a disappointing 3–5–1 record through Week 9. Their defense has fallen apart, ranking near the bottom of the league, particularly against the run.

That reality led Jones and the front office to act aggressively at the 2025 NFL trade deadline. In a surprising pair of moves, Dallas acquired linebacker Logan Wilson and All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The blockbuster deal with the New York Jets saw the Cowboys send defensive tackle Mazi Smith and the better of their two 2027 first-round picks to land Williams.

The price was steep, but the payoff could be enormous. Williams immediately became the team’s best interior defender. He can collapse pockets and swallow up running lanes. Reports indicate the Cowboys plan to extend Williams long-term, too. That would solidify him as a cornerstone of their rebuilt defense.

Williams should drastically improve Dallas’ run defense. He’s ranked as a top-10 interior lineman by Pro Football Focus. His combination of power and athleticism makes him one of the league’s most disruptive interior defenders. Still, this trade is more about potential than immediate results. Williams can plug gaps, but he can’t solve the Cowboys’ problems alone.

If nothing else, the trade reaffirmed Jones’ faith in head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the existing roster. To make this investment pay off, though, the Cowboys must finish what they started. That means signing a premier edge rusher to complete their defensive overhaul.

Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the next signing that the Dallas Cowboys must make after trading for Quinnen Williams.

Sign a veteran free-agent EDGE rusher

Trading for Williams was a massive step in repairing the defense. That said, the Cowboys’ work is far from finished. With Parsons gone, the team’s once-feared pass rush has lost its teeth. Williams and Kenny Clark can dominate the interior. Still, without an explosive edge presence, opposing quarterbacks will have too much time to throw.

The Cowboys must now target a proven EDGE rusher to complement Williams and restore the defense’s identity. Several veteran names make sense. Shaquil Barrett, DeMarcus Walker, and Yannick Ngakoue are all currently available options capable of producing right away.

Filling the Micah Parsons void

Obviously, you can’t truly replace Parsons. However, you can mitigate his absence. Parsons was a generational player who single-handedly changed games with his pressure, speed, and versatility. Since his departure, the Cowboys’ sack rate and quarterback pressures have plummeted.

Adding a proven edge threat like Shaquil Barrett would help restore balance. Barrett’s ability to win one-on-one matchups off the edge and close quickly on quarterbacks would complement Williams perfectly. His presence would also help Wilson and the linebackers flow more freely, tightening up Dallas’ second level.

Maximizing Quinnen Williams’ impact

The beauty of the Williams trade lies in his versatility. He can dominate against both the run and pass. To unlock his full potential, though, he needs a strong supporting cast. When interior linemen are constantly double-teamed, an athletic edge rusher can capitalize on mismatches.

That’s also why a player like Ngakoue makes so much sense. Though he’s been a journeyman, Ngakoue remains one of the league’s most efficient pass rushers when playing alongside disruptive interior linemen. In Dallas, he’d thrive. Together, Ngakoue and Williams could generate the kind of inside-outside pressure that fuels elite defenses.

True ‘win-now’ statement

The Cowboys’ decision to trade premium draft capital for Williams was bold. However, without supplementing that move with an EDGE signing, the front office risks wasting its investment.

A veteran pass rusher would serve as a ‘win-now’ statement, reaffirming that the Cowboys aren’t merely retooling—they’re reloading. Players like Barrett or Ngakoue won’t come cheap, of course. However, Dallas has a bit of cap space and a history of making splashy moves when the stakes are high.

Even if the Cowboys fall short this year, the move would set them up for a 2026 rebound, with Williams, Clark, Wilson, and a new edge rusher forming a defensive core capable of dominating the NFC.

Complete the transformation

The Williams trade gave Dallas credibility again. It showed ambition. Still, the Cowboys lack the finishing touch that separates rebuilding teams from legitimate contenders. Without a dominant edge presence, Williams’ impact will be muted.

Signing a veteran EDGE rusher is a necessity. Whether it’s Shaquil Barrett’s power, Yannick Ngakoue’s speed, or even maybe DeMarcus Walker’s versatility, Dallas must act decisively. The pieces are there for a defensive resurgence. Now, it’s about completing the puzzle.