6 Cowboys Defenders on the Chopping Block if Dan Quinn Leaves

5. Dante Fowler, EDGE

When Dallas lost Randy Gregory ahead of the 2022 season, Dan Quinn turned to a familiar face. The Cowboys signed Dante Fowler spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Atlanta and worked with Quinn for just five games but the two got along well. Quinn loved the burst Fowler had off the edge and Fowler enjoyed being free to do what he does best — get after the quarterback.

During his first season in Big D, Fowler was a rotational pass rusher who played in all 17 games but never had an official start. He still racked up 27 tackles and 6.0 sacks while adding 21 pressures on the opposing quarterback. This year, his snaps went down thanks to the emergence of Sam Williams but Fowler was still effective.

Again playing in all 17 games without a start, the former No. 3 overall selection had 4.0 sacks but just 13 overall tackles. He also had just 12 pressures. None of that is an indictment on his skill but more a byproduct of Williams seeing the field more.

Looking ahead, there's a chance the Cowboys don't retain Fowler either way — he's set for free agency in the offseason. But without Quinn, that chance becomes very slim.