The Dallas Cowboys were buyers yet again at the NFL trade deadline. But at 3-5-1, their shopping list is as much about the future as it is about today. On Tuesday, they acquired LB Logan Wilson and DT Quinnen Williams.

After evaluating each trade in its own, it’s time to look beyond the newcomers and talk their impact across the roster. Below are eight winners and losers from the Cowboys’ trade deadline.

Let’s kick things off with a winner Cowboys Nation might not be a fan of following nine weeks of struggling football on defense. Spoiler alert: It’s looking like defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is here to stay.

Winner: DC Matt Eberflus

Two reasons why Eberflus tops the list: Obviously, he’s getting better players for his defense. But mostly, I’m thinking about his job security. Before news broke on the Quinnen Williams trade, owner Jerry Jones said on radio that he regretted not establishing continuity at the defensive coordinator position. Then he traded a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and Mazi Smith for Williams. What does that tell you?

To me, it seems he’s trying to give Eberflus a chance to prove himself with a better roster in 2026. The defensive coordinator’s job security was shaky going into the bye week, but now it’s feeling like he’s safe even beyond this season. That should spark some mixed feelings across Cowboys Nation given Eberflus’ struggles. But we do know his defenses have been solid when they’ve had talent.

Loser: LB Kenneth Murray

Murray is the only Cowboys defender of the 2025 season with a snap count over 77%. And his actual number? 99.19%. All while he’s played underwhelming football at the middle linebacker position. Newcomer Logan Wilson might need to prove himself before benching Murray but if I had to guess, it won’t take long.

Wilson should be an immediate upgrade at the MIKE spot on defense. He’s got great vision and is a good run defender. Even though he’s been dealing with a calf injury and his peak athleticism is behind him, he’s a solid defender whose fall from grace in Cincinnati has been exaggerated.

Winner: LB DeMarvion Overshown

Speaking of linebacker roles, Overshown was never going to play at middle linebacker when he returned from injury. A high-end athlete and rangy defender, Overshown’s best football is at WILL, where he can play more freely.

At the deadline, the Cowboys improved at defensive tackle and middle linebacker, which should only make Overshown’s job easier. A big problem with Dallas’ run defense has been the opposing linemen’s ability to climb unchallenged to the second level to bury linebackers. Hopefully, adding Williams to the equation erases some of that.

Loser: DT Kenny Clark

I’m not sure how Clark’s snap count will be affected by Williams’ arrival. Are the Cowboys going to move to a 3-4 look or a 4-3 under? Both essentially would mean Dallas needs bigger men on the defensive line as they try to get five players at the line of scrimmage. In turn, it could mean he, Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa are often on the field.

But in general, Clark’s future gets blurrier. Are the Cowboys going to keep him around beyond 2025 on a deal with no guaranteed money now that they have Williams? Not sure about that.

Winner: DT Osa Odighizuwa

This is a tricky one. Similarly to Clark, I’m not sure how this affects Osa’s snaps. But I mean, he’s definitely not playing more. That’s why I had him as a loser when I started writing this post. But then it hit me: Odighizuwa’s struggles on film have been largely a result of Micah Parsons’ absence translating into more double teams for him.

Williams’ arrival should mean more one-on-ones for Osa, who has proven he can be a playmaker in the past. Perhaps he’s able to remind us of why he got signed to an $80 million deal earlier this year.

Winner: LB Shemar James

James, who is up to four starts in 2025 as a fifth-round rookie, is absolutely seeing his snaps go down. Wilson and Overshown are likely starting but I’m not sure Murray is going to disappear from the team’s plans when he has a 99% snap count nine weeks into the season.

That is, however, a good thing for the rookie. James is a heck of an athlete and the upside is obvious. But the vision and processing of the game isn’t there right now. It was evident in the loss to the Denver Broncos. I think some time in the sidelines should benefit his development. He’s not quite ready.

Winner: DE Donovan Ezeiruaku

Ezeiruaku is a two-fold winner out of the trade deadline in my book. Firstly, offensive lines have someone else to worry about every week inn Quinnen Williams. He’s going to be the guy game plans prioritize, which should open up plenty of opportunities for the rising second-round rookie.

Additionally, the Cowboys were expected to be in the market for an edge rusher, which would have taken a hit at his snaps. For now, Ezeiruaku remains the top dog at the position.

Loser: DT Mazi Smith

Another obvious one: Smith’s time with the Cowboys is at an end. It never worked out for the first-round draft pick and the worst part might be that he’s an afterthought in all discussions about the Williams trade. Hopefully, he does better in New York. Maybe a change is what he needed.

This story was originally published in A to Z Sports Dallas Cowboys, as 5 winners and 3 losers from Cowboys’ trades, headlines by one guaranteed to cause mixed feelings.

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