Cowboys Free Agency: Commanders Coach Dan Quinn Top 3 Targets to Ruin Dallas Roster
FRISCO - The departure of Dan Quinn from Dallas to NFC East rival Washington has the potential to hurt the Cowboys more than just losing their defensive coordinator.
Quinn has been in the league a long time and has built relationships at each stop along the way. He's also liked by his current and former players. That's useful when changing scenery for a coach to recruit to his new team, and Quinn fits that bill perfectly.
With 14 Cowboys players entering free agency next month, which guys would Quinn be most likely to plunder from the Dallas roster to help build his new Commanders? We will name three ..
1 - It starts with pass rusher Dante Fowler. Fowler has the most history with Quinn going back to their time together in Atlanta from 2020 through 2021.
Quinn - who even had Fowler for a short time in college at Florida - brought Fowler to Dallas in 2022, and the pass rusher flourished in the defensive system with the Cowboys. In 34 games played over the last two seasons, Fowler registered 40 tackles with 30 solo and 12 for loss. He also registered 16 quarterback hits while playing in a rotational role.
His familiarity with Quinn's system would make him a perfect fit to help kick off the new era in Washington.
2 - Another possibility is safety Jayron Kearse. Kearse saw limited success in the NFL splitting time between Minnesota and Detroit for five seasons before coming to Dallas in 2021. Quinn basically resurrected Kearse's career and the safety's number skyrocketed with the Cowboys. Kearse started in just 12 games in five seasons before arriving in Dallas and has started 42 in three seasons with Quinn and the Cowboys.
The Clemson product saw a career year in 2021 with 101 tackles with 67 solo and nine for loss. Kearse could be a good choice to help usher in some younger players in Washington under Quinn.
3 - Defensive end Dorance Armstrong's time in Dallas may be coming to an end, and Quinn would no doubt love to have him in Washington. The Commanders traded both Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last season, leaving their pass rush corps thin. Armstrong could be a good addition to help bolster that part of the defense.
There is no doubt that just as with Quinn building his staff, he'll want a few loyalists who can help him create his culture. Watch and see: The same thing will happen on that roster, with "DQ guys'' helping show the way.
