The Dallas Cowboys had tried to obtain Williams for two years, finally reaching a trade agreement with the Lions on October 14, 2008, in exchange for a first (#20-Brandon Pettigrew), third (#82-Derrick Williams), and sixth round (#192-Aaron Brown) picks in the 2009 NFL Draft (the Cowboys also received a seventh round pick (#210-Vance Walker) from the Lions in the 2010 draft). He was then signed to a new contract through the 2014 season; he agreed to a six-year, $54 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed. Williams became the second option at wide receiver, while playing opposite to Terrell Owens and didn't have the immediate impact that it was expected, catching only 19 passes and one touchdown in seven starts, although his problems were attributed to his unfamiliarity with the offensive system, playing with two different quarterbacks and the lingering effects of a Lisfranc injury.