How Dan Quinn could be the driving force behind signing Bobby Wagner
There's no denying Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator made his presence felt in 2021 through changing the results and culture of this defense. Seeing young players like Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons turn into starts, and vets like Randy Gregory or Jayron Kearse experience career resurgence. You can see the concrete changes everywhere. The quickness of […]
There's no denying Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator made his presence felt in 2021 through changing the results and culture of this defense. Seeing young players like Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons turn into starts, and vets like Randy Gregory or Jayron Kearse experience career resurgence. You can see the concrete changes everywhere.
The quickness of the turnaround is quite impressive, but Quinn has made it look somewhat-seamless by bringing in some key players to help.
It's safe to say that Quinn likes "his guys".
Speaking of which, the player he considers the greatest linebacker he's ever coached is now available. A linebacker who went with coach Quinn to back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 & 2014.
In 10 seasons with the Seahawks, Wagner totaled 1,383 tackles, 68 tackles for loss and 60 pass break-ups while also earning six All-Pro and eight Pro Bowl nods. He's a future lock for the Hall of Fame.
The best part is there is still plenty of football left in him.
The Dallas Cowboys have enormous holes at the linebacker position. Parsons is the only healthy returning linebacker on the team at the moment, with Jabril Cox rehabbing a torn ACL.
Jaylon Smith was released mid-season. The remaining linebackers consisting of Neal, Leighton Vander Esch and Kearse, who plays a hybrid safety/linebacker position called the STAR, are all unrestricted free agents, as well.
Regardless of who they bring back, the Cowboys need depth and an upgrade at the position. Giving Parsons the ability and opportunity to flex between edge and inside linebacker is what makes him an unstoppable force. However, it also leaves a gaping hole inside when he's lined up on the edges.
A hole that can be filled by a former Dan Quinn All-Pro, to pair with a current Dan Quinn All-Pro. The connection is already there for Wagner to be the newest member of the Dallas Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner is going to be highly recruited in free agency. Despite turning 32 by the start of the season, Wagner hasn't slowed down during his career, and many still consider him among the best inside linebackers in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys are still going to prioritize their own players. However, this won't stop them from upgrading players in areas they can get for the right price.
Wagner was set to make around $16 million in the 2022 season. There's no way Stephen Jones would pay that price. But, as Werder tweeted, this is where Quinn could come in and maybe convince Jones to go after Wagner.
But, depending how much he wants to play for his old defensive coordinator, it's possible a deal can be made. Convincing Wagner to come to Dallas for an affordable price would be just another feather in Quinn's proverbial Cowboys cap. And based off what we've seen so far, there's little reason to think he can't get it done. As stacked the odds are, already.
No one knows if it will happen, but we do know this: Wagner is definitely a fit and it's easy to think Quinn would love to have him. And most of all, Dallas needs him.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
