Dallas Cowboys: 3 lower-cost options to replace Robert Quinn at DE
By Reid Hanson
Vinny Curry
Age: 31
PFF Rank: 22
Vinny Curry was quietly awesome last season. The 6-foot-3 279lb end from Philly tied with T.J. Watt in pressure rate at 16.8 percent (Per PFF, fifth in the NFL). Playing 275 pass-rush snaps, Curry logged 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 7 hurries, 6 knock downs, and 5 sacks. The numbers aren’t big but his impact per snap was.
All of this tells us Curry is a fine rotational player capable of being highly efficient on passing downs. While Robert Quinn may have played more total snaps, that’s really all he was – a passing down defensive end. Quinn was one of the worst edge run stoppers in the NFL last season and seemed solely focused on getting to the QB. Curry was a little more well-rounded.
PFF ranked Curry as a better pass-rusher and run stopper last season so he provides tremendous value considering he’ll come at a fraction of Quinn’s cost. Curry would match well with someone like Tyrone Crawford at right defensive end. The two players could rotate snaps with Crawford even contributing inside at DT in nickel situations. Both players are decent against the run and both offer some position flex.
It’s difficult to see either Vinny Curry or Shaq Lawson exceeding Robert Quinn’s output from 2019 next season, but frankly it’s hard seeing Quinn repeat it. Both players would offer savings and both would help round out a rotation. But if finding someone who’s Quinn’s physical equal is your goal, option No. 3 may be what you’re looking for…