Robert Quinn

Chicago brought on Quinn last season after a huge 11.5-sack 2019 with Dallas, but he disappointed, notching just a pair of sacks and 20 tackles in 15 games. Now 31 years old, his days of big production may be behind him, and he likely will be available on waivers in most IDP leagues. But in leagues that award big points for sacks, Quinn could be viewed as a priority add if he gets off to a hot start in 2021.

After averaging six sacks per season from 2015-18, Quinn posted 11.5 sacks with the Cowboys last year, which was the first time since 2014 that the veteran posted double-digit sacks. Now, he finds himself on the Bears, where he'll benefit from the presence of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks as pass rushers that opponents will need to account for. Based on Quinn's situation, it wouldn't be a shock to see him post another big season in the sack department, but at age 30 he does present a significant risk factor after a bit of an outlier season. While he's only played a full campaign once over the past five years, he's been fairly durable over the last three, when he missed just three games. It also helps his floor that he's averaged 35 tackles in the last three years, but his positional eligibility in IDP leagues is important. As long as he's listed as an edge or defensive lineman, his value is trending upward, but he'd be a poor fit in leagues in which he's listed as a linebacker.

After seven seasons with the Rams, Quinn headed to Miami last year and was a dependable anchor off the edge, playing all 16 games for the first time since 2014 and racking up 6.5 sacks. Acquired by the Cowboys via trade, he now joins a squad that has had difficulty finding a secondary weapon to bookend DeMarcus Lawrence in the pass rush, which should afford Quinn plenty of opportunity to pad his totals. Quinn's first full sack as a Cowboy will be the 70th of his career.

Miami gave up a fourth-rounder to acquire the former All-Pro from the Rams and bolster their front seven. Quinn was one of the top defensive players in the league from 2012 to 2014, during which time he racked up an astounding 40 sacks. After two injury-riddled seasons in 2015 and 2016, Quinn started every game in 2017 and accumulated 8.5 sacks in his first year as a 3-4 linebacker. The 28-year-old stands to return to his customary 4-3 role in Miami, where the Dolphins hope he'll dominate suited up alongside Cameron Wake.

After logging three straight 16-game seasons with double-digit sacks Quinn appeared in just 17 contests over the past two years due to back, shoulder and concussion issues, and he totaled just nine sacks along the way. Although he's being "moved" to an outside linebacker role this offseason, Quinn will remain a down lineman in nickel situations, which is becoming increasingly common amongst NFL defenses today. Thus, he's still in a very similar spot to where he was in 2012-14 when he averaged over 13 sacks per season, and he makes for a viable buy-low candidate in IDP formats.

Double-check on Quinn's status closer to your draft, but as of press time there was no indication the back ailment that ended his 2015 season would be an issue for 2016. He was dressed but limited for OTAs, though there otherwise wasn't much info. So long as he's ready to go, Quinn should re-establish himself as a top-three pass rusher. He totaled 21 tackles and five sacks in just 339 snaps last year, and in 2013 he totaled 19 sacks on 783 snaps. Quinn and Rams tackle Aaron Donald pose a cruel dilemma to opposing offenses, unable to double both all the time.

With 40 sacks the last three years, Quinn is perhaps the the league's most feared edge rusher. But after 19 sacks in 2013, it took him a while to get going last season as he did not register his first until Week 7. He finished with a disappointing 10.5 but could be poised for a bounce back this year, especially with DT Aaron Donald drawing more double teams. Quinn is likely to again be among the leaders in sacks per snap, and his numbers could spike if coach Jeff Fisher lets him approach 1,000 snaps this season after averaging 814 the last three years.

He was already a good player heading into last year, but few players in the league took as much of a step forward as Quinn did in 2013. Coming off a 10.5-sack sophomore season, Quinn went to the next level as he raced to 57 tackles and 19 sacks in his third year, while also forcing seven fumbles. Unlike a lot of sack specialists, Quinn showed reliable consistency in 2013, posting at least one sack in 11 games and never going more than two weeks without a sack. Quinn had always shown glimpses of DeMarcus Ware-like upside, and the 2013 season gives reason to suspect he'll have that upside on full-time display. There's also a good chance he's still improving, as he just turned 24 in May. The only weakness Quinn has compared to other players in his tier is a relative lack of tackles. As a lineman primarily asked to bend the edge of the line rather than dive into traffic, he seems unlikely to exceed 60 tackles most years.

Quinn's talent warrants a bigger projection, but his 2012 performance implies he'll be a one-dimensional player who makes his mark purely as a pass rusher. Split out wide and away from between-the-tackles running, Quinn rarely showed the ability to post noteworthy tackle totals in 2012, his first as a starter. But he is one of the league's brightest pass-rushing prospects, as he posted 10.5 sacks on just 830 defensive snaps last year. Look for Quinn to continue to improve, but don't expect him to turn into a 60-tackle player in the Rams’ current scheme.

Quinn is probably a bit under the radar, but he looks ready to break out in a big way in 2012. He has the natural talent and college productivity that indicates elite pass-rushing ability, he plays for a coach (Jeff Fisher) with an impressive defensive résumé and the three linemen playing next to him (Kendall Langford, Michael Brockers and Chris Long) are all physically imposing players who will ensure that Quinn almost never sees double teams. Although he is more of a blank slate than an established commodity, Quinn showed promise during his brief playing time as a rookie, posting five sacks despite playing off the bench. Possessing 4.62 speed on a 6-4, 264-pound frame, Quinn runs with a lean somewhat reminiscent of DeMarcus Ware. It would surprise if he doesn't comfortably make it to double-digit sacks.

Should start the season behind starter James Hall at right defensive end, but could steal the job by midseason if he realizes his vast potential.