3 winners (and 2 losers) from Jets' unthinkable Quinnen Williams trade

The New York Jets are absolutely ripping their roster to shreds at the trade deadline of the 2025 NFL season. Several players were expected to be moved, but not faces of the franchise like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.

Granted, the Jets may have actually won the Williams trade, as the Dallas Cowboys sent a first and second-round pick to New York in exchange for the nearly 28-year-old defensive tackle. The Jets are now equipped with five first-round picks and several second-round picks in the next two drafts.

Though the true winners and losers of this blockbuster trade cannot be rightfully determined without the benefit of time, a knee-jerk reaction would place the following people in the aforementioned categories.

Winners and losers from Jets' Quinnen Williams trade

Winners

1. Darren Mougey

Mougey came under fire for the Sauce Gardner trade, but it is clear what he is doing here. He is absolutely blowing up the roster, and fans can't ignore the amount of capital that the Jets now have to rebuild. Williams is great, but getting Mazi Smith, a first, and a second-rounder for him is a win for Mougey.

2. Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith has been nothing short of a draft bust during his first two and a half seasons in Dallas. But he was drafted in the first round for a reason, and he'll get a chance for a fresh start in New York after completely falling out of favor with the Cowboys.

3. Aaron Glenn

Aaron Glenn is now pretty much absolved of blame for how the rest of the season goes. Woody Johnson was not likely to fire him anyway, but by stripping away the two cornerstones of his defense, Glenn has a major excuse when explaining why the Jets could crash and burn the rest of the year.

Losers

1. Quincy Williams

The Jets ultimately decided against trading Quincy Williams ahead of the deadline. Now, after coming to New York to play with his little brother, Williams had to watch his kin get shipped out of the building. The NFL is a business, but it's hard not to feel for him as a person.

2. Justin Fields

The Jets are obviously in tank mode and stacking up draft picks so that they ensure a top quarterback in next year's draft. That is bad, bad news for Fields, who might not even get a chance to compete for a starting role based on how this year has gone.