Just in; Dollas Cowboys may Lose Pass Rusher to Commanders After Dan Quinn Hire
The Dallas Cowboys will see Dan Quinn twice a year for the foreseeable future, but he could be joined by other free agents. There are several Cowboys players who will test free agency, but Dante Fowler Jr. stands out.
Brian Martin of The Boys Blogging pointed out that the defensive end has significant history with Quinn. It makes sense for the running back to consider moving to the Washington Commanders.
“From college to the pros, Dante Fowler has a long history with Quinn and could follow him in Washington like he did in Dallas,” Martin wrote on Feb. 6. “Like Dorrance Armstrong, he has been a key rotation piece for the Cowboys the last two seasons, recording 4.0 and 6.0 QB sacks in those two years. “He will add much-needed depth to our captaincy and will be relatively inexpensive given the contracts he has recently signed.”
Martin also suggested that Armstrong could leave. However, between the two DEs, Armstrong was the more versatile and consistent producer. If the Cowboys were to keep one, Armstrong would make sense as a player drafted by the organization and one who has been a solid player over the past six years. Dante Fowler Jr.’s time in Dallas
Fowler entered the NFL with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and was already there. It’s safe to say he was never considered a “star” in the NFL. However, he was a useful pass rusher for several teams, including the Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.
Before the 2020 season, Fowler was looking for a team. Quinn, who coached Fowler at Florida, was the Falcons’ head coach at the time and recruited him. And with Quinn fired through the 2021 season and then hired by Dallas, Fowler followed in 2022. In two years in Dallas, Fowler totaled 10 sacks and three forced fumbles. He never started, but did not miss a game in 2022 or 2023. This is a perfect situation for a rotation player.
The Cowboys could consider keeping Fowler, but his relationship with Quinn guarantees nothing. The Cowboys could bring back Mike Zimmer.
While Quinn settles in Washington, the Cowboys are still looking for their next DC. One name confirmed for an interview is former Minnesota Vikings head coach and longtime Dallas employee Mike Zimmer. NFL Media Insider Tom Pelissero first reported the news on Feb. 6.
“Cowboys are interviewing former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer for defensive coordinator position today,” Pelissero X wrote. Zimmer has had a lot of success in the NFL since his first stint in Dallas. His Vikings teams never reached the Super Bowl, but he led Minnesota to three playoff appearances. He served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2006. It made sense for owner Jerry Jones to hire Zimmer because of his familiarity with the organization. However, he was suspended from the NFL for two years. He spent 2022 with Deion Sanders at Jackson State and did not coach in the 2023 season.
