ESPN named Dallas Cowboys free-agent defensive end Robert Quinn a “perfect match” for the Bills to add this offseason. While the Bills pass rush improved last year, increasing their sack total from 36 in 2018 to 44 in 2019, there’s still a feeling that the team could benefit from some help at the edge position.
Buffalo’s 44 sacks were good enough for 12th this past season.
Quinn registered 11.5 sacks last year. In addition, he had 34 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus.
Here’s how the Quinn-Bills match is explained:
2019 team: Cowboys | Age: 30
While the top of the edge market is filled with talent and potential, all of those options come with some risk at their projected price range. It might be tough to get value on those high-end contracts. Quinn is an option in the next tier that will leave the Bills some more money to attack other holes on their roster. After leading the NFL with a 93.6 overall grade on defense in 2013, Quinn had a few more strong seasons before his career hit a lull. He has had a rejuvenation of sorts in recent years, though, and his 78.3 pass-rushing grade in 2019 ranked 17th among qualifying edge defenders. (Note: We originally had Jaguars edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue matched with the Bills here, but Jacksonville is planning to franchise tag him.)
Quinn would be an interesting pick up for the Bills, as his veteran pass-rush prowess would strengthen the group. He is 29 years old, and it remains to be seen if the Bills would take a risk on signing him to a long-term deal.
Jerry Hughes signed a two-year extension through 2021. The 31-year-old has been the produced chaos in the pass rush since he arrived in Buffalo in 2013. Trent Murphy enters the final year of his contract in 2020, and he’s neglected to repeat his breakout performance in 2016. Outside of this duo, the team has a few depth pieces signed in Darryl Johnson and Mike Love.
If Quinn is the “perfect match” for Buffalo, then it seems the team will need to invest in a succession plan at the position, as both Hughes and Quinn work through the back half of their respective careers. ESPN also indicates that Yannick Ngakoue was once the pick for the Bills and he still could be, but Buffalo would now have to trade for him.
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