The Dallas Cowboys are expected to be active before the NFL trade deadline arrives in less than two weeks, and their priority remains clear: keep rebuilding the defense. But after Thursday morning, one major name is no longer available.
The Tennessee Titans sent star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in a blockbuster deal that brought back a huge package of draft capital. Tennessee will get two first-round picks, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and a 2028 fifth-round pick in exchange for the three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. That return puts the Cowboys’ own defensive-line trade from last season into sharper focus.
Dallas landed Quinnen Williams before last year’s deadline, giving up a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and Mazi Smith, who has since signed with two different teams. Compared to the Simmons package, that deal suddenly looks like a steal.
During his first season in Dallas, Williams made the Pro Bowl. He played in seven games in the 2025 season and finished with 21 total tackles, nine quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one pass defensed.
He has taken another step this year. Through the first seven games, Williams has 22 total tackles, six quarterback hits, a team-high three sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defensed. If he keeps this pace, he could be in position for the second All-Pro selection of his career.
And while the Simmons trade grabs the headlines, Williams’ impact has been central to a Cowboys defense that still has a long way to go. Dallas ranks 29th in total defense at 373.7 yards allowed per game and has given up 21 total touchdowns, sitting ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
The pass defense has moved in the right direction, climbing to 20th in the league after recently sitting last. Dallas is allowing 228 passing yards per game and 12 passing touchdowns, and the arrival of star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has clearly helped.
Against the run, though, the problems remain. The Cowboys are 31st, ahead of only the Carolina Panthers, surrendering 145.7 rushing yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns.
In Other News...
Cowboys Head Into Cardinals Week With New Questions Around Key Stars
The Cowboys week of prep for Arizona has already taken on a different tone, with George Pickens working through shoulder and hamstring injuries that have cut into his practice reps. For a team trying to keep its offense on schedule, any limitation for a key pass catcher changes the look of the day-to-day plan, even if there is still time before kickoff. Safety Caleb Downs is also limited because of an ankle injury, adding another name to a practice report that merits close attention.
Patrick Queens name has also surfaced in trade talk, giving the injury watch a little extra noise as Dallas moves toward the Cardinals. Jerry Jones has already poured some cold water on the speculation, but that has not stopped the rumors from circulating around a Cowboys team that seems to collect questions as fast as it collects headlines. For now, the focus is on who can get right in time for the weekend and how much depth Dallas may need to lean on if the list keeps growing. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Week 8 Backfield Question Amid Mounting Absences
Jeremiyah Love was back on the field in a limited capacity this week after missing the past two weeks with an ankle injury, giving Arizona at least a chance to sort through its backfield before the Week 8 meeting with Dallas. The Cardinals are still juggling a lengthy injury report, with nine of the 15 players listed not taking part in practice, and the team continues to manage an illness that swept through the group last week.
Head coach Mike LaFleur has been working through how Love fits alongside backup Bam Knight while the offense tries to steady itself up front. Arizonas offensive line has been a concern, and with the Cowboys coming up, the Cardinals still have plenty to clean up before they know exactly what kind of shape their backfield will be in. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Roster Moves Are Starting To Look Bigger Than Expected
A year of roster tinkering is starting to look a lot more meaningful for the Cowboys than it did when the moves were made. Between trades, free-agent additions and contract decisions, Dallas has quietly built out a deeper group of contributors, and several of those names are now showing up in real game situations rather than just on paper. Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr., Otito Ogbonnia and Brevyn Spann-Ford have all given the team more than depth, which matters on a roster that has been trying to turn scattered moves into something more durable.
The encouraging part for Dallas is that these additions are not just filling space, they are giving the coaching staff more options and a better sense of what the roster can become over time. As the Cowboys keep sorting through the impact of those moves, the bigger question is how much of this recent production reflects a short-term surge and how much is the foundation for a stronger run going forward. [Read more 🡒]