Robert Quinn’s stay in Miami didn’t last long. The former St. Louis Rams first round pick was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in exchange for a sixth-round selection in April’s NFL Draft.
Quinn has apparently been shopped all offseason, even taking a visit with the New Orleans Saints. Once he was officially on the roster, the Cowboys gave the defensive end a new, one-year deal worth $8 million with a possible extra $1 million available in incentives.
Quinn is entering his ninth year in the NFL, a league he looked like he would dominate early on. In his first four seasons, Quinn recorded 45 sacks, but hasn’t reached nearly that production since as injuries slowed him down in his final years with the Rams.
He did play all 16 games for the Dolphins last year, recorded 38 tackles, forced two fumbles and notched 6.5 sacks. Quinn hasn’t recorded double-digit sacks since 2014.
BREAKING: @dallascowboys expected to trade for Dolphins pass-rusher Robert Quinn.
(via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/QuvX4ewQch
— NFL (@NFL) March 28, 2019
Dallas has been in desperate need for help on the defensive front after the abrupt retirement of David Irving just three weeks ago after the NFL suspended him indefinitely. Irving made the announcement on Instagram while smoking marijuana.
That suspension came just barely two weeks after defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended indefinitely for pretty much the exact same reason. Gregory hasn’t announced any plans to retire as of this writing.
Star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and the Cowboys are currently at a contract impasse. For the second consecutive season, Dallas hit Lawrence with the Franchise Tag. If he plays without a new contract, he’ll still haul in $20.5 million this season.
Robert Quinn: 69 career sacks in 8 seasons. Former All-Pro.
The @DallasCowboys just added a dominant pass rusher to that defense 💪 pic.twitter.com/0rd1VBhg8m
— NFL (@NFL) March 29, 2019
Quinn will turn 29 before the season starts and unless the Cowboys unleash something that hasn’t been in him since Barack Obama’s first term, he’ll be nothing more than a single-season rental. They’ll have to address their future needs in the draft and, hopefully, by signing Lawrence long term.
As for the Dolphins, this appears part of a team-wide complete rebuild.
