The Dan Quinn saga is finally resolved. The architect of the Cowboys' elite defensive units is no longer in Dallas. He is making his return to head coaching with the Washington Commanders.
Commanders, who finished last season 4-13 and with the worst defense in the NFL, will benefit greatly from Quinn's leadership. But, he will need to bring in a significant amount of new talent with him to Washington to build a competitive team.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they are projected to have the most cap space in the NFL this offseason with over $84 million. This means that Quinn will have the ability to make the maneuvers he desires and lure away a few players he has familiarity with from Dallas.
Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback
The Commanders allowed the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL last season despite spending significant resources on their secondary over the years.
Gilmore, who might get squeezed out of the corner rotation in Dallas, and the Commanders could be a match made in heaven. Despite being 33, he still played every game and 94% of snaps, and had a solid year, finishing with 68 tackles, two interceptions, and a completion rate of under 56 percent.
He might be superfluous in Dallas who likely will have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland starting on opposite sides.
Quinn, who was able to squeeze every little bit of juice left in Gilmore last season, might want to bring him to Washington as a veteran CB1.
Jayron Kearse, Safety
Kearse seems like a prototypical Dan Quinn guy. His versatility and ability to play both linebacker and safety make him a crucial piece for any defense he is a part of. Plus, he owes a lot of the success he enjoyed in his career to Quinn.
Before arriving in Dallas in 2021, Kearse was a fringe rotation player. He was able to flourish under Quinn's system, especially in his first two seasons. He was still solid in 2023, but his snap count was reduced to the extensive depth the Cowboys have in the position.
Now that the Cowboys have prioritized fellow safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson by giving them contract extensions last offseason, Kearse is a good candidate to sign elsewhere.
His familiarity with Quinn, as well as his playmaking, could be a huge boost to Dan Quinn's defense in Washington. Quinn knows the importance of investing resources in safety as he had immediately signed Hooker, Damontae Kazee, and Kearse when he came to Dallas. There is a good chance he will replicate that strategy with the Commanders, with Kearse being a likely free-agent signing there.
Dante Fowler Jr, EDGE
Fowler Jr is as clear-cut of a Dan Quinn player as any. Quinn helped recruit the talented pass rusher to Florida when he was the defensive coordinator there and helped him become one of the best defensive players in the country, culminating in Fowler becoming the third overall pick in 2015.
Quinn signed him in free agency when he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, then brought him over to Dallas in 2022. Now that Fowler is an unrestricted free agent again, it makes too much sense for him to follow Quinn to Washington, as the Cowboys probably can't make the same lucrative offer to him that the Commanders can.
Fowler played career-low snaps with career-worst tackle and sack numbers last year, and it's hard to see him be the player he was as a promising prospect early in his career. But he is still a trusted hand for Quinn and can contribute in a smaller role.
Dorance Armstrong, EDGE
Another pass rusher who is a Dan Quinn favorite is Dorance Armstrong, who is also hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason.
Despite being a fourth-round pick and generally an afterthought ever since he was drafted by the Cowboys in 2018, Armstrong managed to carve out an excellent career in Dallas, in no small part thanks to Quinn.
Armstrong steadily increased his snap count and role within the team's defense, playing the third-most snaps among the Cowboys' elite defensive end core last season. He finished the campaign with 38 tackles and 7.5 sacks despite playing a deep rotation that includes high-level rushers.
After his solid Dallas career, Armstrong might be out of the Cowboys' price range. He simply might be a luxury that the Cowboys can't afford. Dan Quinn and the Commanders, however, would love to add a player of Armstrong's caliber into the mix, especially considering that their top five defensive ends are all slated for free agency in 2024.
Noah Igbinoghene, Cornerback
Perhaps Dan Quinn will be hesitant to make a big splash in free agency despite the amount of cap space the Commanders have. Or perhaps he will prefer to spend that on other positions instead of the secondary. The Commanders basically have a need in every position, after all.
If that's the case, Washington will likely shy away from the older veterans who will command more significant deals on this list. Then, Quinn might look at other Cowboys who are lower in the pecking order. One of those players could be the 24-year-old Noah Igbinoghene.
The former first-round pick came into the league with considerable expectations after three solid seasons at Auburn. Yet, he never managed to establish his career with the Miami Dolphins or the Dallas Cowboys, where he was traded to in the 2023 offseason.
Now, his rookie contract is done and he will try to stick in the NFL. We know Quinn's successful track record of developing secondary talent. He might want to bring over the talented corner as an affordable option and try to revive his career.