Would DE Robert Quinn be a free agent fit for Seahawks?
Mar 11, 2020, 4:58 PM
Could Robert Quinn return to the NFC West and play for the Seahawks? (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks’ biggest need in 2020 is at defensive end, and while fans have their sights set on premier edge rushers like Jadeveon Clowney and Yannick Ngakoue, Seattle may ultimately go with a cheaper option.
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One of those options? Former Rams defensive end Robert Quinn, who is set to hit free agency after a racking up 11-and-a-half sacks with the Dallas Cowboys.
The former 2011 first-round pick spent seven seasons with the Rams before playing a season apiece with Miami and Dallas. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Quinn was named First-Team All-Pro in 2013 after racking up 19 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. Quinn missed starts and subsequently saw less production in 2015 and 2016, and was ultimately traded to Miami in 2018. At 29 years old, though, Quinn saw a resurgence in his productivity; he recorded 11.5 sacks, thirteen tackles for loss, and three passes defended in 2019.
While Clowney could seek a contract exceeding $20 million per year, Spotrac estimates a deal for Quinn could be closer to $11 million annually. And, according to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jake Heaps, that price will still land Seattle a big contributor.
“If you want a veteran, proven commodity, Robert Quinn is your guy,” Heaps said during his free agent profile Monday (listen here). “He still has tremendous get-off at the snap of the ball. He really has the ability to bend the corner and shorten the edge to get to the quarterback, all while still having the ability to bull rush you.
“You’d love to get him maybe not as your front-line guy, but certainly your No. 2 guy who can get after the quarterback. He’s not elite in terms of run stopping, and that’s important to note with Quinn. He’s not a liability, but he’s not elite there. You’re bringing him in to rush the passer, and you need to bring someone else in alongside him to draw away that attention so Quinn can get as many one-on-one opportunities as possible. He’s as good an anyone in the league in those situations, and he still has the ability to be a super star in any given year.”
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Stacy’s free-agent profiles:
• Should Seahawks pursue Ngakoue if Clowney doesn’t re-sign?
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