The Dallas Cowboys should extend Quinnen Williams before the season, but the NFL world just showed us it could be harder than expected
The Dallas Cowboys like to handle business at training camp in Oxnard, California and star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could be next in line. But will the sides be on the same ballpark?
When you give up a first-round pick and a second-round pick plus a player for a defensive tackle, there is no hiding your feelings. The Dallas Cowboys gave that up for star defender Quinnen Williams in a trade last November, and I can guarantee you Williams and his camp remember that.
They really want him around. Dealing away Osa Odighizuwa for a third-round pick solidifies such sentiment.
That will matter should both parties discuss a contract extension prior to the 2026 NFL season. The only thing is agreeing on the numbers may be easier said than done, especially considering the latest intel from around the NFL.
NFL coaches, execs, and scouts seem to vastly disagree on Cowboys DT Quinnen Williams
As he does every year, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler polled annonymous scouts, coaches, and executives to rank the Top 10 players at each position. On Thursday, he published the defensive tackle results. Unsurprisingly, Williams made the list.
However, what is shocking is his position on the list and the lowest ranking given to him by voters. Though many consider Williams a Top 3 or even Top 5 defensive tackle in the NFL, he ranked only sixth on the list. That’s good and all, but some view Williams in an even better light. And here’s the kicker: At least one voter left him out of the Top 10.
One NFL coordinator believes the lower-than-expected ranking is explained by his time with the New York Jets.
“The Jets will knock you down — the same thing happened to Leonard Williams — but I expect Quinnen to be better in Dallas, be rejuvenated a bit,” an NFL coordinator says in Fowler’s story.
To be fair, Williams does come from a 2.5-sack season, the lowest mark in his career since he was a rookie in 2019. But that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Williams recorded a very decent 51 pressures (12th in the NFL). And as a run defender, he was off the charts. Williams finished with the highest-stop rate versus the run per Pro Football Focus. He was also the best-graded defensive tackle in run defense.
It’s entirely possible that the voters in Fowler’s rankings simply emphasized pass rush over overall DT play, causing Williams to drop a little in the rankings.
Pass rush production could be a sticking point in negotiations
Whether some voters are right or wrong for leaving Williams out of the Top 10 altogether, I wonder if Williams’ low 2.5-sack total in 2025 and the NFL’s perception of him becomes a sticking point in negotiations. You see, Williams has no guaranteed salary beyond 2026, so it could make sense for the Cowboys and he to engage in negotiations come training camp.
But after watching the Tennessee Titans sign Jeffrey Simmons to a deal paying him over $35.2 million per year, how likely are the Cowboys to be in the ballpark for a top-of-the-market deal? After all, Simmons is fresh off of a 11-sack season. Williams hasn’t recorded double-digit sacks since 2022.
Williams is an elite defensive tackle and the Cowboys should conduct some savvy business by getting an extension done early. They clearly have a long-term plan with him. But I’m starting to believe if Williams doesn’t get a top-of-the-market offer, he may want to raise the price tag before striking a deal. That could lead to some complications at the negotiating table.
The Cowboys are known to conduct contract negotiations at Oxnard, California. My eyes are on Quinnen Williams on that front. But we’ll see if the Cowboys and he are in the same ballpark.