3 biggest poachers for Dallas Cowboys coordinator Dan Quinn

The Miami Dolphins, in my opinion, made a mistake by firing head coach Brian Flores. I would have given Flores one more season. Although an early firing should sway Dan Quinn who was also fired prematurely away, Miami is a sneaky good destination for a coach.

First, the Dolphins have a roster full of young talent on both sides of the ball that would make this reclamation project much easier. They are also projected to have the most salary-cap space in the league entering this offseason with over $70 million available.

They do have a first-round pick this season but it depends on where San Fransicso ends their season as they are the original owners of that asset.

The AFC appears to have an easier road to success than the NFC so heading over to that side might be beneficial for a coach who has cut his teeth amongst the titans of the NFC.  Speaking of the Titans, Tennessee earning the No. 1 seed might be more motivation for those in the conference as opposed to fear.

Quinn would have to deal with Bill Belichick, Buffalo’s ascension, and a Jets team that finally has a sense of direction. If you take a quick look throughout the AFC landscape, the AFC East appears to be a division in flux.

The Dolphins swept the Patriots and Jets this season with a coach who was eventually fired, so the dominance of the Patriots has worn down to just competitive. A streaky Buffalo team locking up the division on the final week of the season proves my point that this division is a fluid situation.

On the downside, the Dolphins owner has flirted with the idea of a quarterback change and the price associated with such a move is one that could cripple the franchise if it doesn’t work.

I am fully aware that teams without a franchise quarterback have a substantially lesser chance of winning games in this league. But giving up so much draft capital for one player is risky. One also has to wonder if the dismissal of Brian Flores would alter Watson’s desire to go to Miami.

The Dolphins also have two corners who are paid amongst the highest in the league, yet the team gave up the sixth-most passing yards this season. Teams like Jacksonville and Detroit gave up fewer passing yards, so a change in philosophy is much needed.

Dallas knows how big a change in philosophy can be for a defense, and other teams with vacant head coaching jobs know its importance as well. Quinn is familiar with Miami as he was their defensive line coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Apparently, he struck up a good working relationship in Miami with then Dolphins director of pro personnel George Paton (more on him later).

If I am Quinn, I would do my homework. This place looks like it could work, but I believe coach Quinn will eventually pass on Miami.