Tag: Dante Fowler

2022 Free Agency: Cowboys add Dante Fowler to DE rotation, reuniting him with Dan Quinn

Dallas is living the post-Randy Gregory world and adds their second defensive end in the last couple days. He’s not a former Cowboy, but Fowler is familiar. | From @AsaHenry_55

Maybe the floodgates have finally opened for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 free agency. Throughout the week, Dallas has only been able to seal the deal on a handful of their own guys, and even that didn’t go anywhere near as planned. Dallas entered free agency with two of their top three edge rushers on the market. After failing to bring back Randy Gregory, the club did reach an agreement with Dorance Armtstrong, Jr.

Armstrong has never been a featured player, so it was expected the team would look to find more help on the market. A few hours after it was announced the team signed WR James Washington, they turned around and brought in defensive end Dante Fowler, reuniting defensive coordinator Dan Quinn with his longtime pupil.

Fowler spent the previous two seasons with the Falcons, and was brought to Atlanta by now Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn prior to the 2020 season. Since Quinn joined the Dallas staff it has been clear that he has had a strong influence on defensive personnel moves, and the Atlanta connection between the former head coach and Fowler likely played a factor in the signing. Quinn helped recruit Fowler to Florida.

Fowler was drafted third overall out of Florida in the 2015 NFL draft by the Jaguars and notched 16 sacks over three seasons before the Rams traded for him. In 2019, his second year with Los Angeles, Fowler had his best year to date as he totaled 11.5 sacks in 14 starts. Over the next two seasons Fowler managed 7.5 sacks in 28 games with the Falcons.

Signings like Fowler and Armstrong may not be able to replicate the high-end pass rush ability that Gregory is capable of, but they have both proven to be adequate rotational pieces on a defensive front.

The exact salary amount that Fowler agreed to is yet to be disclosed, but  Cowboys recent history in free agency alludes to the deal being a short-term, manageable contract for the Cowboys. Dallas has made a habit of signing talented players coming off down years to affordable contracts hoping to help a career resurgence, and this Fowler move fits that mold perfectly.

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Browns have a new edge rush option available immediately

Released today, Fowler could sign tomorrow. Could he recapture his 11.5 sack glory from 2019?

Until something changes, the Cleveland Browns defensive end rotation for the 2022 season is quite bare. Obviously, Myles Garrett holds down one of the spots as a/the top edge rusher in the NFL. Garrett’s production has left no doubt about his place in the league.

In 2021, Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley joined the team and benefitted from all of the attention that Garrett got from blockers. Clowney had nine sacks, tied for second-most in his career, while having 19 hits on the quarterback, also his second-most. McKinley only played in 11 games but had 2.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Both Clowney and McKinley are set to be free agents when the league year starts in March. McKinley also tore his Achilles tendon late in the season and could miss all or most of 2022.

That leaves Curtis Weaver and Porter Gustin as the only other defensive ends on the roster currently. Sheldon Day can pop out to end but isn’t someone the team should count on as an every-down player.

Wednesday, DE Dante Fowler was released by the Atlanta Falcons putting another player at the position on the market:

What is unique, as noted in Rapoport’s tweet, is that by being released now Fowler is free to sign with another team right away. If Andrew Berry and company want to get ahead of the market at the position, Fowler could be a part of that.

In his seven years in the NFL, Fowler has 35 sacks playing for three different teams. In his last two years in Atlanta, the former third overall pick had a total of 7.5 sacks. Two years removed from 11.5 sacks, teams will have to decide how much they think Fowler can produce in their defense.

Fowler had signed a three-year, $45 million deal following that breakout year with the Los Angeles Rams.

Signing Fowler, depending on the price, would take Cleveland out of the running for a Clowney return but could give them some depth.

Falcons Week 15 inactives: Fowler in, Davidson out vs. 49ers

The Atlanta Falcons (6-7) have released their inactives for today’s game against the San Francisco 49ers (7-6).

The Atlanta Falcons (6-7) have released their inactives for today’s game against the San Francisco 49ers (7-6) and it appears outside linebacker Dante Fowler will in fact be out there.

Fowler missed two days of practice, but returned on Friday and was officially listed as questionable on the Falcons’ Week 15 injury report. Here’s a look at the rest of the team’s inactives.

Falcons news recap: Dante Fowler DNP, new mock draft

We examine Atlanta’s Wednesday injury report and look at ESPN’s new mock draft in today’s news recap.

The Atlanta Falcons practiced Wednesday for the first time since their Week 14 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Linebacker Dante Fowler was among four players to sit out, according to the team’s first injury report of the week. Daren Bates has been designated to return from the injured reserve list and the Falcons were one of seven teams operating in the NFL’s advanced COVID protocols.

We examine Atlanta’s Wednesday injury report and look at ESPN’s new mock draft in today’s news recap.

Falcons Week 10 injury report: Fowler, Bullard return to practice

The Atlanta Falcons released their first injury report of the week following Wednesday’s practice and two starters made their return.

The Atlanta Falcons released their first injury report of the week following Wednesday’s practice and two starters made their return. Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (concussion)and outside linebacker Dante Fowler (knee) were back out there as the team begins preparation for Sunday’s matchup against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (6-2).

Let’s take a look at the Falcons’ Wednesday injury report.

Player Injury Wed Thu Fri Status
Jonathan Bullard Concussion LP
Steven Means Knee LP
Lee Smith Back DNP
Kendall Sheffield Hamstring DNP
Dante Fowler Knee LP

 

Falcons place OLB Dante Fowler on injured reserve

Fowler will be sidelined for at least three games, delivering a devastating blow to the Falcons’ pass rush.

On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons ruled out outside linebacker Dante Fowler for their Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, and shortly after, the team placed him on the injured reserve list.

This means Fowler will be sidelined for at least three games, delivering a devastating blow to the Falcons’ pass rush.

Fowler was a disappointment in 2020 after signing as a free agent, but he’s been a pleasant surprise through the first five games of 2021. The former No. 3 overall pick out of Florida has 12 tackles (7 solo), two sacks, three QB hits, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection this season.

In his absence, expect increased reps from linebackers Ade Ogundeji, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and Steven Means. Although, none of these players will bring the same pass-rushing ability off the edge as Fowler.

Atlanta is currently a 2.5-point favorite over Miami in Week 7.

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Falcons Week 7 injury report: Dante Fowler ruled out vs. Dolphins

The Atlanta Falcons have ruled outside linebacker Dante Fowler out for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

The Atlanta Falcons practiced without outside linebacker Dante Fowler (knee) for the third consecutive day on Friday, and have ruled him out for their Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Outside of Fowler, though, the team is fairly healthy entering Sunday’s matchup.

Rookie cornerback Avery Williams (hamstring) has been listed as doubtful, but safety Jaylinn Hawkins has logged two full practices in a row since sitting out on Wednesday. Here’s a look at the Falcons’ latest injury report and game designations for Sunday.

Player Injury WED THU FRI Status
CB Avery Williams Hamstring LP LP LP Doubtful
LB Dante Fowler Knee DNP DNP DNP OUT
S Jaylin Hawkins Illness DNP FP FP –

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Ranking the NFC South EDGE defenders: Is Panthers’ Brian Burns already No. 1?

Where does Burns stack up in the talented pass-rushing market of the NFC South?

If you could actually invest in football players as you can in stocks (wait, that may really be possible now), you’d be wise to get in on Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns. Because in 2021, there’s little to no doubt he’ll be soaring up the sheets.

How high has he soared in his own division? Where does Burns stack up in the talented pass-rushing market of the NFC South? Let’s find out.

Dante Fowler labeled as Falcons’ biggest potential disappointment

Falcons edge rusher Dante Fowler was named as the team’s biggest potential disappointment entering 2021.

Back in 2019, the Falcons signed Dante Fowler to a three-year, $45 million contract with $22 million in guaranteed money. Fowler was coming off a season in which he recorded 58 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. Those are quality numbers, and Atlanta bit hard on the former first-round pick out of Florida — where he and former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn had previously worked together.

What Atlanta’s former regime failed to contextualize was the amount that Fowler’s numbers could be inflated playing next to Aaron Donald. The team believed the young pass rusher’s career was progressing, but 2019 appears to have been more of a blip than a trend.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox labels the Falcons edge rusher as the team’s biggest potential disappointment ahead of the 2021 season.

Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. agreed to a pay reduction earlier this offseason. However, he’s still set to carry a cap hit of $10.7 million, which is a lot for a player who had just three sacks a season ago.

The Falcons are hopeful that Fowler can rebound this season.

“He’s a talented, tough and rugged man,” outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said last month, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think once we apply those things to his game on all three downs, I think it’s going to help our defense and help our team.”

The problem is that aside from a strong 2019 season with the Los Angeles Rams, Fowler has been mediocre at best as an edge-rusher. He had 11.5 sacks while playing alongside Aaron Donald that year and just 19 sacks over his other four pro seasons.

Many feel Atlanta’s new defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, will be able to help someone like Fowler better utilize his pass-rushing skill set. Pees is an expert at drawing up creative blitzes. However, with no true threat coming off the other edge, it may be best to temper expectations of the former first-rounder.

After restructuring his deal in the offseason, 2021 essentially becomes a contract year for Fowler in Atlanta.

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PFF names Falcons’ best and worst contracts entering 2021

Jones’ decade of greatness in Atlanta came to an end this offseason when the cash-strapped Falcons sent him to Tennessee in exchange for draft picks and $15 million of cap relief.

There’s no greater lesson on the dangers of reckless salary cap management in the NFL than seeing Julio Jones make his debut in a Titans uniform. Jones’ decade of greatness in Atlanta came to an end this offseason when the cash-strapped Falcons sent him to Tennessee in exchange for draft picks and $15 million of cap relief.

Since the trade, Atlanta has been able to sign most of its 2021 draft class, which couldn’t have happened otherwise. Former Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff ultimately lost his job in 2020 due to short-term thinking and a lack of wins over his final three seasons. Even after the Jones trade, Atlanta has some big contracts it will be paying off for years to come.

Pro Football Focus released a feature examining each team’s best and worst contracts entering the season. For the Falcons, left tackle Jake Matthews was ranked the best. Here’s what PFF’s Brad Spielberger had to say about the veteran lineman.

“If you’re looking for another reason why the Falcons recently moved on from wide receiver Julio Jones, it’s because the Falcons arguably have the fewest veteran contracts currently providing value to a franchise.

Interior defender Grady Jarrett and Jake Matthews are very good players at premium positions with some surplus value compared to their contracts, especially with the recent explosion of the left tackle market, but the list pretty much ends there.

Matthews has played 4,357 snaps over the last four seasons, the most of any tackle in the NFL. His 84.1 grade is eighth-best among all left tackles since 2017. You can’t ask for much more from your blindside protector, and the former No. 6 overall pick of the 2014 draft still has three years remaining on his contract, with a total cash flow of $39.5 million”

As for the worst contract on the team, PFF highlights linebacker Dante Fowler’s recently revised deal that he signed just a year ago.

“Fowler agreed to revise his contract this offseason after signing for three years, $45 million during the 2020 offseason, turning the 2022 year into a void year and reducing his 2021 base salary by $7 million down to $6 million. His situation could have potentially served as a cautionary tale for the Rams with respect to edge defender Leonard Floyd, but Fowler’s success alongside DI Aaron Donald in Los Angeles was unsurprisingly not replicated on a poor defensive line in Atlanta.”

It’s low-hanging fruit to pile on Fowler at this point. The team had unrealistic expectations of the impact he would have on a deeply flawed defense. Still, the former No. 3 overall pick was unimpressive as he dealt with injuries for most of the year. Playing in a more aggressive 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Dean Pees could help Fowler be a more productive member of the team in 2021.

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