News broke on Thursday morning that Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn would be remaining in Dallas for the 2022 season. Quinn was among the hottest coaching candidates of this year’s cycle.
Keeping Quinn as defensive coordinator is a huge offseason win for the Cowboys. His work with Micah Parsons and the defense as a whole is well-documented.
Instead of replacing both coordinators, the Cowboys are set to bring back offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in addition to Quinn. That has a chance to pay off for the Cowboys as teams around the league work through coaching changes.
Now that we know that Quinn will be back in Dallas next season, it is time to look into what the Cowboys’ offseason strategy will be. The Cowboys have talent on the defensive side of the ball, but there are some positions with question marks, too.
FREE AGENCY STRATEGY
Two of the more notable defensive free agents on the Dallas Cowboys include defensive end Randy Gregory and safety Jayron Kearse.
Gregory had a strong 2021 campaign after years of dealing with injuries or suspension. Kearse was inked last offseason and thrived under Quinn’s coaching. The veteran safety quickly emerged as one of the brightest spots on the improved Dallas defense.
Dalton Schultz and Michael Gallup are also hitting free agency. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys use the franchise tag. If forced to make a prediction in late January, it seems likely that the Cowboys will tag Gregory if they cannot sign him to a team-friendly deal.
Re-signing Kearse needs to be a priority. The Cowboys are already short on depth at the safety position. Only Donovan Wilson is under contract for next season. Kearse was key contributor and played well in the roles that Quinn utilized him in.
I floated the idea that Jayron Kearse should be pushed up the priority list for a contract if the price is right. I found out some are not as impressed as I am. Elaborate for me. I think he was excellent and want more. What am I missing?
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) January 20, 2022
It would make sense for Dan Quinn and the Cowboys to prioritize re-signing Jayron Kearse while also finding a way to keep Randy Gregory. Kearse could capitalize on a strong 2021 season in free agency, but he obviously fits the Quinn defense well.
WHAT COWBOYS COULD DO IN DRAFT
The draft strategy will be another topic to keep a close eye on. Depending on what the Cowboys do in free agency, Dallas will have a handful of needs on the roster to address.
Offensive line, wide receiver, and secondary are three areas that Dallas could address early in the draft. Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green, and Michigan safety Dax Hill are three names that have been linked early onto the Cowboys.
Defensive tackle and linebacker are two areas that the Cowboys could seek to upgrade. Leighton Vander Esch could be on his way out of the building, depending on the contract that he may demand on the open market.
Today @JC1053 said his three early draft crushes at pick 24 were Tyler Linderbaum, Nakobe Dean, and Kenyon Green.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) January 22, 2022
Here's a look at Nakobe Dean against Michigan: pic.twitter.com/OeTKtPOnJs
Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean would be an intriguing fit to play next to Micah Parsons. Dean is regarded as one of the best defensive prospects in the class. His size and lack of elite traits could cause him to slide to the Cowboys. Dean’s teammate, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, is another name of interest.
The draft is also deep at cornerback. Anthony Brown played well this past season, but the Cowboys could look to upgrade the position opposite of the ball-hawking and risk-taking Trevon Diggs.
Improving the offensive line could be priority number one. However, it is safe to assume that Dan Quinn would like to add another talented piece to his side of the ball.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
