Dallas Cowboys: The case for adding pass rusher Everson Griffen
The Dallas Cowboys have a hole at defensive end that pass rusher Everson Griffen could fill.
In free agency, the Dallas Cowboys lost arguably their biggest playmaker on the defensive side of the ball from last season. Defensive end Robert Quinn accumulated 11.5 sacks last season, despite missing the first two games of the season. Quinn signed a five-year, $70 million contract extension with the Chicago Bears this offseason.
The Cowboys made an effort to add help to the position, signing defensive end Aldon Smith to a low-risk contract this offseason. While Smith could be an impact player for the Cowboys this upcoming season, he has not played in the NFL since 2015 and isn’t a reliable option to be a full-time starter for the team.
Fortunately for the Cowboys front office, there is still a veteran on the open market who has proven himself as a consistent option at defensive end.
Dallas Cowboys can find a reliable replacement for Robert Quinn
Everson Griffen, the 32-year-old defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings has spent the last 10 seasons with the team. Now as a free agent, Griffen has yet to be picked up by a team, still giving the Cowboys a chance to secure his services for this upcoming season. Griffen started 15 games for the Vikings in 2019, racking up 8.0 sacks for the team.
While Griffen is certainly on the back-end of his successful career, he would still be a reliable replacement for Quinn, producing efficient numbers for the team. Adding Griffen to the Cowboys defensive line would solidify it as one of the best front seven’s in the league.
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If the team decided to sign Griffen, the defensive line would consist of Griffen, defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The team would have good backup options as well, with defensive tackle Antwaun Woods, defensive end Aldon Smith, defensive end Tyrone Crawford, and defensive end Randy Gregory waiting on possible reinstatement from the NFL.
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With linebackers Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, and Sean Lee on the next level of the defense, that gives the Cowboys a very strong front end of the defense, giving a youthful secondary some relief.