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NFL Rumor Offers Evidence for Why Jets Trading Quinnen Williams Was a Brilliant Move
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- NFL Rumor Offers Evidence for Why Jets Trading Quinnen Williams Was a Brilliant Move
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
A new report offers up a boatload of evidence for why the New York Jets' decision to trade Quinnen Williams on Tuesday was a master stroke by the team's front office.
The Jets turned themselves into one of the biggest stories before the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline. Not by making deals to improve their roster to try and salvage their season. No, New York , and first-year general manager Darren Mougey decided to take advantage of the trade market and supercharge their rebuild.
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On Tuesday, they made not one, but two blockbuster deals that jettisoned their top two players on defense. In one trade, they sent two-time Pro Bowler Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts . Then they followed that up by sending three-time Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys . Following the trades, they now have two first-rounders and two second-rounders in 2026, and three first-round picks in 2027.
They were bold decisions by the organization. However, in the case of Williams, it was one they needed to make, and a trade the third overall pick in 2019 asked for.
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Quinnen Williams stats: 1 sack, 32 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles,
Quinnen Williams badly wanted out of New York
According to SNY NFL insider Connor Hughes , the relationship between Williams and the Jets reached a very dark place over the last six months, and he reportedly asked to be traded multiple times in 2025.
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Hughes claims things started to go downhill between the two sides when the Jets released Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. After going public with his frustrations, a conversation between him and new head coach Aaron Glenn in March did not improve the situation.
He then asked this summer to have his contract reworked, since there is just $5 million in guaranteed money left. But the team denied the request since he still has two seasons left on his current contract . Once that happened, Hughes claimed the relationship became "irreparable."
"The Jets' 0-7 start made the relationship irreparable. Williams let those close to him know he wanted a fresh start and had little interest in working toward an extension in New York. His preferred destination was the Cowboys — a feeling that, clearly, was mutual," Hughes reports .
So, instead of holding on to an unhappy star, New York moved him now instead of losing trade leverage later once word got around that he wanted out. Furthermore, they got a very good return in the deal, including a first-rounder. New York's front office deserves credit for turning a messy situation into a potential long-term win for the franchise.
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