3 Dallas Cowboys free agents that could follow Dan Quinn to his next team

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 26: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Football Team is tackled by Jayron Kearse #27 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Football Team 56-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2. Jayron Kearse, Safety

The late John Madden was known for his emphatic “boom” on the broadcasts. For Dan Quinn, no player was more emphatic on a “boom” type play than one Kam Chancellor, known as “Bam Bam.”

Unfortunately, No.31 is retired and won’t be suiting up anytime soon, but Quinn has a player with similar traits in both height and hits in Jayron Kearse. At 6’4″ and known for his physicality, Kearse is an ideal player for how Quinn views his strong safeties.

Kearse, however, is far off from what Chancellor was. A former 7th round pick by Minnesota, Kearse appeared on three NFL teams before finding his groove in Dallas.

The downside is that Kearse has only played six games this year and started five of them. In other words, he’s a spot player that can be a starter if you really work with him and develop him. Quinn is that guy.

Expect Kearse to follow Quinn wherever he goes, and he might get more playing time mainly due to how he fits the scheme as opposed to who else may be on that roster.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 26: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Football Team is hit after throwing a pass by Randy Gregory #94 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Football Team 56-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

1. Randy Gregory, Defensive End

For much of his career, Randy Gregory has either been on the field making life miserable for quarterbacks or being suspended for drug issues and being the punchline of Stephen A. Smith’s “weed” jokes, which is becoming more eye-rolling by the day. Gregory looks like he has revived himself, to the delight of Big D, who drafted him in Round 2 of the 2015 Draft.

However, given that he has endured several off-the-field transgressions, his cap hit is low, and Dallas may eventually cut him a big check to stay in the Lone Star State, that is unless Quinn decides to take him along for a new ride in a new city.

Since arriving in Dallas from Nebraska, Gregory has amassed 16.5 sacks in his career, six of which came this season. He’s an incredible talent, but staying on the field has been an issue. Not so much with Quinn in the saddle. This year, Gregory has only been heard of for sacking a quarterback instead of being away from the sidelines.

Quinn’s style of player requires pass rushers pinning their ears back and getting after the quarterback. Gregory does that very well, and it must be noted that Cowboy fans want him and Quinn to stay in their respective roles. It may very well happen, or they could lose one, or even both of them. Time will tell if something like that occurs.

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