The Washington Commanders have signed another former Dallas Cowboys player. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Commanders are planning to sign defensive end
Dante Fowler Jr. Fowler’s numbers have fallen since 2019, but he was one of the best at getting to the quarterback, recording a career-high 11.5 sacks. In 2023, he recorded 4.0 sacks and a career-low 13 tackles.
Fowler, 29, will now have another opportunity to play for his former defensive coordinator in Dallas, Dan Quinn, who is now the Commanders’ head coach. He is the third former Cowboy to join Quinn in Washington, following defensive end Dorance Armstrong and centre Tyler Biadasz, and he is unlikely to be the last.
With Fowler, Armstrong, rookie defensive end Clelin Ferrell, and safety Jeremy Chinn, the Commanders have a chance to rebuild a defence that was the worst in football last season.
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Another reunion with Dan Quinn.
Fowler’s deal represents another reunion between Quinn and the Commanders, which was anticipated before the offseason began. Quinn led an excellent defence with the Cowboys, allowing the ninth fewest points in football last season.
In a March 9 story for The Athletic, Ben Standig mentioned Fowler as a possible Commanders candidate.
“Two more Quinn favourites to fortify the defence depth and locker room voices for a room likely inhabited by rookies and random newcomers seeking cohesion,” he wrote in the piece. “This would mark a fourth professional and college stop for Quinn with Fowler (four-plus sacks in three consecutive years).”
Commanders needed a pass rusher
After dealing Montez Sweat and Chase Young, it was unsurprising that they addressed the position inside the first two days of free agency.
Bryan Manning of Commanders Wire saw defensive end as a position of need entering the offseason, emphasizing the severity of losing Young and Sweat.
“This room will appear very different in 2024. Washington opened the 2023 season with Chase Young, Montez Sweat, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, and Efe Obada — its top five defensive ends — all set to hit free agency in 2024,” Manning said. “So, in the 2023 NFL draft, the Commanders selected edge rushers K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. with two day-three picks.
“Young and Sweat were moved on the NFL trade deadline. Smith-Williams and Toohill are not permanent starters, while Obada is a veteran who is unlikely to return. Henry showed some sparks but is currently more of a rotational player, while Jones failed to stand out despite a strong summer,” Manning said. “You could see Toohill or Smith-Williams return in a rotating role, but the Commanders will look for two starters on the perimeter. While we don’t know who the defensive coordinator is or what scheme they’ll use, we do know Washington desperately needs pass-rushing help.”
While Fowler is not as well-known as Young and Sweat, he has produced at a high enough level to justify this move. When you consider Sweat’s deal and the estimated $13 million Young’s is slated to receive from Spotrac, transferring them was definitely the proper move.
Building a cheap, veteran-led defence appears to be a wise and safe move for Quinn in his first season.
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