Dallas Cowboys Forced To Release Running Back After Their Big Additions At The Trade Deadline

The Dallas Cowboys had a big day on Tuesday after putting up a stinker against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

The Cowboys gave a first-round and a second-round pick to the Jets for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. It’s the Cowboys’ first-round pick and not the first-round pick they acquired from the Packers for Micah Parsons.

In exchange, the Jets will also get former first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

Williams was the third overall pick in the 2019 draft. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, and he’s a three-time Pro Bowler. He has the ability to come in and change the defense that’s giving up 397.4 yards and 30.8 points per game around.

“I’m f–king pumped,” Dak Prescott told reporters.

Dallas also acquired Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on Tuesday for a seventh-round pick.

With two new players coming, somebody, unfortunately, had to go.

In an effort to make room for Williams and Wilson on the roster, the Dallas Cowboys were forced to waive running back Malik Davis.

Cowboys waived RB Malik Davis.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2025

As a member of the team since 2022, he has rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown.

The Dallas Cowboys Need To Reel Off A ton of Wins To Make The Playoffs

Williams and Wilson now join one of the worst defenses in the NFL, a 3-5-1 team that is facing a steep uphill climb to the playoffs.

The Cowboys have been playing from behind defensively since trading Micah Parsons to the Packers. The team is not considered a legit contender unless their defense can make some stark changes in the next month.

Their two trades could’ve looked so much better had they won at home on Monday night. Being 4-4-1 would’ve looked so much better than being two games under .500 and with a tie on their record.

The Dallas Cowboys return in Week 11 for another “Monday Night Football” game — this one on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders.