With the NFL offseason ramping up and fanbases anticipating adding talent, the Dallas Cowboys have the garnered spotlight for their potential departures. Whether it be wide receiver Amari Cooper being shopped or the potential release of Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas has been floating the idea of big stars from the 2021 team to be absent come August 2022.
On Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks joined that column in the ledger and released eight-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion linebacker Bobby Wagner, stirring up the conversation of a reunion with his former defensive coordinator during the championship run, Dan Quinn. While the Cowboys have been looking to clear cap space, there are reports of Dallas trying to reconnect Wagner with Quinn.
Source: #Cowboys have contacted free-agent linebacker Bobby Wagner and expressed their interest in having him play for DC Dan Quinn, who coached him in Seattle. Whether the financial components work out is yet to be determined. The two will keep in contact next few days.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 11, 2022
Just 22 minutes after Werder’s report, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram gave context to the initial news of the Cowboys and Wagner’s talks. It appears Stephen Jones could be sticking to his conservative and cap-clearing ways in the 2022 offseason.
Per sources, the Cowboys are not going to be in the Bobby Wagner sweepstakes. Can't compete money wise. Or won't.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 11, 2022
For Jones, this would be on brand to stay out of the talks with Wagner even though the window for Dallas to compete in the playoffs closes by the day. On the other side, if the financial side works out, Wagner could fit seamlessly into Quinn’s defense.
After all, the Cowboys have a hole at linebacker and Wagner is still a top player. The release of Jaylon Smith and the free agency of oft-injured Leighton Vander Esch have opened a hole at the position, so who better than Wagner to fit?
Add in Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and the two-headed monster he would be with Wagner and it seems like a no-brainer for Dallas to at least try. Wagner would be the perfect mentor for Parsons and Quinn, who has been the catalyst for talks with his former linebacker, could have a field day scheming around the pair.
The Cowboys currently sit $4.3 million in the negative according to OverTheCap. While contract restructures are coming, it will likely still take a discount from Wagner to pair him with Quinn and Parsons but it all depends on Jones’ willingness to take risk before it’s too late.