The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins have reportedly agreed to a trade that sends Robert Quinn to America’s Team. Grading the move for each team.
In March of last year, the Miami Dolphins were hoping to get a healthy Ryan Tannehill back in the lineup and take a step forward. Thus, they made a move to trade for defensive end Robert Quinn from the Los Angeles Rams. After the team struggled in 2018, though, they’re now heading in a completely new direction, one that won’t include Quinn either as he’s reportedly heading to the Dallas Cowboys.
On Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to report that the Cowboys will be trading for the pass-rusher. Meanwhile, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network added that Dallas will pen a new one-year deal to make the trade for Quinn happen. As for the Dolphins, though the exact compensation has not yet been reported, Rapoport noted that they will likely receiver a future late-round pick.
Considering that the Dolphins were insistent upon trading Quinn and that the Cowboys have a need for pass-rush help, these two teams seemed likely trade partners. Now that the deal will get done, though, let’s see what grade each team receivers for this trade.
Dallas Cowboys Grade
Though it would be nice for the Dallas Cowboys to get a long-term deal done with Demarcus Lawrence, that still seems a ways away from happening as they continue to negotiate with Lawrence under the franchise tag. In the short term, however, Dallas needed to beef up their pass-rush given the way that this offseason has gone.
With Randy Gregory facing another suspension and Taco Charlton entering Year 3 with little production and coming off an injury-plagued sophomore campaign, the Cowboys need a consistent force opposite of Lawrence on the defensive front. Robert Quinn ultimately gives Dallas just that.
What’s more, this is the type of move that smart NFL teams make. While they are committing non-negligible cap space to Quinn, they are also giving up little draft capital to add a player that has 15 sacks over the past two seasons and is still just 28 years old. That’s working the market wisely to address a big need.
Last season, the Cowboys defense truly emerged as their biggest strength. Putting Quinn on the roster helps solidify that can be the case once again in the 2019 season.
Final Grade: A-
Miami Dolphins Grade
If you look at this trade in a vacuum, you would likely give the Miami Dolphins an A for their efforts in trading Robert Quinn. They are clearly blowing up the roster in South Beach right now and are nearing “tanking” territory as they enter the 2019 season. Thus, being able to get rid of a large contract and pick up some sort of compensation is a win for them.
The reason that you have to give the Dolphins a bit below a top grade, though, is that they gave up a fourth-round pick for Quinn just last offseason. It seems unlikely that Dallas would give up a future fourth for the pass-rusher, meaning the value of their investment diminished. For miscalculating their situation last offseason, Miami has to be knocked down a notch in their grade.
Final Grade: B+