3 Defensive ends Dallas Cowboys can still sign in free agency
By Randy Gurzi
2. Cameron Wake
Robert Quinn was a player who was once one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. There was a time when the same thing was being said about Cameron Wake, the former CFL star that broke into the NFL in 2009 with the Miami Dolphins.
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Wake ended up playing in Miami for 10 seasons and made the Pro Bowl five times. He recorded double-digit sacks in five seasons and had two more where he registered 8.5 on the year. He and Quinn ended up becoming teammates even with the Dolphins, but both found new homes in 2019.
Quinn found major success with the Dallas Cowboys but Wake wasn’t as fortunate. The 37-year-old pass rusher joined the Tennessee Titans and ended up playing in just nine games before going on injured reserve with only four tackles and 2.5 sacks on the year.
It was a frustrating way to end his season after he was named the Week 1 Defensive Player of the Week for destroying the Cleveland Browns offensive game plan — which was where he earned both of his sacks.
Wake might be 38 years old now, but he proved in that game that he could get the job done still. He could be just the guy for Dallas to sign and play in the same role Michael Bennett had last season.
As a rotational defensive end, Wake could come in on third downs while allowing Tyrone Crawford, who is a great run defender, to play on the early downs. Not only that, but given his age and the injury from last season, he would be relatively cheap.