In one fell swoop, the Bears have revamped their pass rush. On Tuesday, the Bears agreed to a five-year, $70MM deal with Robert Quinn, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Meanwhile, they also released former first-round pick Leonard Floyd (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter).
Quinn’s deal includes $30MM fully guaranteed, giving him solid security over the course of the deal.
The Cowboys worked to keep Quinn, but the numbers crunch didn’t quite allow for that. Dallas, of course, came into the offseason with even bigger fish to fry, including negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper. They already watched as cornerback Byron Jones left for the Dolphins, and now they’ll be losing another key member of their defense.
Quinn was the comeback kid in 2019, notching 11.5 sacks for Dallas. It was a resurgent year for the veteran, who had a rocky stretch following his last Pro Bowl appearance in 2014.
The 2011 first-round pick emerged as a serious force in 2012 and looked the part of a world-class defender in 2013 when he posted 19 sacks. He had a solid follow-up effort in 2014 (10.5 sacks), but he missed roughly half of 2015 and 2016 with the Rams. After spending the 2018 season with the Dolphins, Quinn was traded to the Cowboys last offseason.
There were high hopes for Floyd when the Bears selected him in the first-round of the 2016 Draft. The Georgia product had a productive rookie campaign, compiling seven sacks. While the linebacker put up solid numbers in the subsequent three years, his sack numbers have dropped each season. The 27-year-old finished the 2019 campaign with 40 tackles and three sacks.
Floyd was set to earn $13.2MM in what was his fifth-year option year.
Wow way to long of a term and overpayment
Basically a two year deal with the guaranteed money. He’s better than Floyd.
WAY better than Floyd.
Ryan Pace has to be delighted that the Bears don’t have a first round pick in the upcoming draft. One more misfire and he will be looking for work elsewhere.
He should be looking for work now
The Jimmy Graham signing is a head scratcher. This one isn’t.
They needed a TE it was either Graham or Ebron just not for that kind of money.
This is a really solid move, very big upgrade over Floyd, Jimmy Graham sucks but he basically got a 1 year deal, our offensive line is our biggest need though and I don’t understand his refusal to address that
We didn’t have enough money to sign the only T that’s good.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Love it! Mack from the left, Quinn from the right. Havoc.
Very strong signing. Address OL in round 2. We needed an edge rusher and got a good one.
Agreed
Pace should be fired today. Another first round bust which only leaves Smith from all his drafts. Over payed yesterday for a 33 year old TE that Saints Seahawks and Packers all got rid of. Now he overpays for a guy who’s had one good year in the last three. And he still stuck with that mental midget Trubisky running the offense
Agree – Pace not the sharpest knife in the door.
Lol, “door”. Hope that was deliberate!
Floyd wasn’t a bust as much as a disappointment.
He’s a very good lb, just not a pash rusher
As dumb as the Graham signing is, this one actually makes them better. Quinn will take the pressure off of Mack that Floyd just never did.
It’s rare you are going to send both LB’s up the field anyway, so this take the pressure off thing is overrated. You send your best ‘pressure guy’ up-field most of the time and the other has to be able to cover quick dump passes, which Floyd is much better at than Quinn.
If anything, Quinn will help to spell Mack occasionally, but this fit might not be as good as Floyd even, simply because Quinn is not a cover guy. Floyd is very underrated in his ability to cover for those few seconds within five yards of the line.
I just think Quinn would be a better fit on a team needing someone closer to Mack, not someone to play opposite of Mack.
I don’t know. Mack was double and triple teamed last year. Quinn on the other side should relieve some of that.
These have been great signings by Pace…if it was 2014
Pace should be selling insurance somewhere.