There was a time when Robert Quinn was one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL. The former 14th overall pick was an All-Pro in 2013, his third season in the NFL, after finishing second in the league with 19.0 sacks. Last season he came as close to that total as he had in any other season of his career.
Quinn joined the Dallas Cowboys under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli last season and hit 11.5 sacks; his most in five seasons. In fact, Quinn hadn’t even hit double digits for four previous seasons with the Rams and Dolphins. Two of those seasons were cut short by injuries.
After last season, Marinelli and Quinn are both free agents. Marinelli was hired by the Raiders as defensive line coach, re-joining Jon Gruden under whom he had coached the defensive line in Tampa for several years in the early 2000s.
While coaches can latch on anywhere as soon as they are let go, NFL players set to become free agents must wait until the start of the new league year in March. Quinn will have some suitors around the league looking to add some pass rush to their defense. You’d have to figure the team that employs the defensive coordinator under whom Quinn had his best season in five years would have a decided advantage if all things were equal.
Prior to last season, Quinn was traded by the Dolphins. At that time, he was given a choice between heading to the Saints or the Cowboys. He chose the Cowboys in part to play under Marinelli.
“Specifically, it was the way they allowed the D-line to play high-flying,” Quinn said. “We get to attack and get in the backfield more than in other places. I think it was kind of one of those where we could have fun and disrupt the backfield which they want us to do.”
Marinelli was glad to team Quinn up with Cowboys All-Pro DeMarcus Lawrence.
“I’m telling you, what’s he’s really going to be is a good run defender just like D-Law,” Marinelli said. “Lizards over there – racing lizards who can play the run.”
Reptile comparisons continued for Quinn as later Marinelli referred to the pass rusher as ‘The snake” after Cowboys player Tyrone Crawford gave Quinn the nickname “Black Cobra” from his bend around the edge.
With Quinn approaching 30 years of age, and having just one double-digit sack season in five years, he may not receive a blockbuster long term deal. His 2-game suspension last season for substance abuse will also probably scare some teams away from a long term investment. Though you’d figure he will get a raise from the $8 million he made with the Cowboys last year. Perhaps a substantial raise with some nice incentives built in.
With the Raiders having spent last year’s fourth overall pick on defensive end Clelin Ferrell and getting Defensive Rookie of the Year caliber numbers from 4th round pick Maxx Crosby, they have no need to break the bank adding a pass rusher.
But that also means they have the money to spend on the position with two young players who won’t be looking at a second contract for another three years at least. Now imagine Ferrell, Crosby and Quinn in a rotation on the edges. It’s a fun thought.
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