by: Dan Morrison 8 hours ago dan_morrison96
Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the sideilne before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The NFL trade deadline has now come and gone. Amid that, there was a scramble to solidify teams around the country. That included the Dallas Cowboys notably adding defensive lineman Quinnen Williams in a trade.
On Get Up following the trade deadline, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick shared that he gave the Cowboys a B+ grade for their trade deadline. That’s because they addressed a serious need within the team. At the same time, there are still issues there that need to be addressed.
“Look, I’m giving them a B+,” Louis Riddick said. “I’m giving them a B+ because you cannot be No. 32 in the NFL in terms of rushing first downs allowed, and then complain about it all season, every season, like we do, and then not do anything about it. They have.”
The defense, in general, has been a major issue for Dallas. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per game, giving up 397.4 yards. That includes 143 rushing yards allowed per game, which is 29th in the NFL. All of that has made Dallas the 31st-ranked scoring defense, giving up 30.8 points per game.
Williams should address those issues moving forward. The 27-year-old defensive tackle was an All-Pro selection in 2022 and is a three-time Pro Bowler. In eight games this season, he has 32 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 1.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles as a defensive tackle.