Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams
wants to rebound this upcoming season. Those around the league are confident he will.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published his top-10 NFL defensive tackles on Thursday morning, featuring opinions from coaches, executives and scouts. Fowler listed Williams No. 6 at his position after placing him at No. 5 last year. One coach believes he could re-enter the top-five conversation by the end of the season.
Coach explains why he expects Quinnen Williams to bounce back next season
“The Jets will knock you down — the same thing happened to [Seattle Seahawks DT] Leonard Williams — but I expect Quinnen to be better in Dallas, be rejuvenated a bit,” an NFL coordinator said.
Leonard Williams, No. 1 in Fowler’s survey, played for the New York Jets from 2015-19 before they traded him to the New York Giants in a midseason deal. After making his first Pro Bowl during the 2016 season, the DT struggled to build off that, finishing with just 17 sacks in five seasons with the AFC East team.
He has since salvaged his career with the Seahawks, who acquired him in a trade with the Giants during the 2023 season. Over the past two seasons, he has made two Pro Bowls and earned a second-team All-Pro nod. During this span, he has recorded 18 sacks (No. 16 in the NFL, via StatMuse).
Quinnen Williams, entering his eighth season, has already made more Pro Bowls (four) and earned more first-team All-Pro nods (one) than Leonard Williams. That said, Dallas needs better pass-rushing numbers from the DT. After the Jets sent him to the Cowboys before last season’s trade deadline passed, he had 1.5 sacks in seven games for the NFC East club. His numbers could improve under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
He spent the last two seasons as a defensive backs coach/defensive passing game coordinator under Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a defensive wizard. Fangio clearly passed on some of his knowledge to Parker. Earlier this offseason, Quinnen Williams said the DC has “opened his eyes” to ways he can improve.
He must use those smarts to put Quinnen Williams in better positions next season. The DT regaining his mojo is key for the Cowboys defense, which ranked last in the league in points allowed (30.1 points per game) in 2025.
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