One of the top player still available in 2021 free agency in veteran Linebacker K.J. Wright. With his old Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn now working for the Cowboys, it’s no surprise that Wright’s been linked to Dallas a good bit over the last few weeks.
Wright won a Super Bowl with Quinn coordinating the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle. When Dan left to become the Falcons’ head coach, Wright was quoted as calling him a “defensive mastermind.”
The Cowboys certainly need some help at linebacker. Joe Thomas is now with Houston, Sean Lee is contemplating retirement, and the duo of Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch are going into 2021 with serious concerns about their performance and Leighton’s health.
K.J. Wright could walk into training camp at age 32 and still perhaps be Dallas’ best linebacker. If nothing else, he could provide exceptional depth and veteran leadership while also helping teammates to adapt to Dan Quinn.
So yeah, unsurprisingly, Wright and the Cowboys appear to be flirting a bit this offseason.
https://twitter.com/KJ_WRIGHT34/status/1375505661123911680
Our K.J. Wright EXCLUSIVE: ' #Cowboys Are One Of My Dream Teams' https://t.co/Xg1VvURJF6 at https://t.co/XpImtdZoYw @SInow #Seahawks
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) March 26, 2021
Starting to feel like KJ Wright to Dallas is more likely to happen than to not happen.
— cowboysnation ready to be hurt again (@CowboysNation) March 28, 2021
Spent my Saturday not looking at twitter dot com. Highly recommend it.
Just my $0.02. Adding KJ Wright, preferably on a multi-year deal, would do WONDERS to alleviate my concern about the whole “they might not have any starting linebackers in 2022” dilemma.
— Dave Helman (@davehelman_) March 28, 2021
If Wright and the Cowboys do end up together it shouldn’t be surprise that it took some time. Dallas has become very conservative with free agency over time and isn’t looking to pay those first-wave salaries and bonuses.
But now it’s been a week and K.J. remains unsigned. Depending on what other offers or interest he’s received, the lure of reuniting with Quinn and joining the Cowboys could get him here at an acceptable price.
Dallas doesn’t want to go into the draft with any glaring needs. If they can add a player like K.J. Wright, it will fill one of their bigger holes and provide additional leverage for the big weekend in April.
yeah that would take a guy like Parsons out of the question at 1st pick and or any pick on LB till at least 4th round , I’d still draft someone cuz of Wright’s age and health being a concern for LVE and the unknown with J Smith ,
Monty Rice would be a steal in the 4th round , or JaCoby Stevens would be a interesting LB/S hybrid
Another 30+ dude. Just don’t overpay or put him on a multi year contract.
No team should ever draft a LB in the first round wasted pick
With all the Dan Quinn connections why haven’t we heard anything on Early Thomas since Quinn came on board. He desperately needs a 1 yr deal to repair his reputation and show he can be a team player.
He’s a very good linebacker. Jerry Jones is scared he is better than the two they have now. He loves Smith and Van der Esch. Hard to sit Smith making that much money.
The reason why we ain’t hearing Earl Thomas Eric , is cuz he’s going through the same thing as TO and Chad Ocho Cinco , THEY AREN’T WORTH THE TROUBLE ANYMORE ,
Chad got another chance with Pats and Miami , but when he got in trouble again , and got hurt , he was done , his play didn’t cover his troubles off the field
Same with TO , we dropped him cuz he wasn’t producing and he was still a head ache in locker room , and so he bounces around till no one wants him anymore ,
So now I think he ET is the same way now , his play has gotten worse with age and now his play doesn’t outweigh the Off the field issues , at this point I don’t want ET , he’s just a cancer
Agree X88. Not worth the trouble on E Thomas !!
Yes we need KJ Right
DON HOWARD- I’ll respectfully disagree. The Bucs Devin White was picked #5 overall in 2019 and he was dominant in the SB also picked off the chosen one.
LBs are becoming much more of a commodity. The modern day ones are more athletic and multipurpose then their predecessors and are able to impact the game in multiple ways.
Agree Gary. Devin White played extremelly well in the playoffs and Super Bowl. I had not seen him play much until last year playoffs. Great pick at #5.
I say pick up Wright.. But the cowboys just spent to much for Dak.. They need to make some moves on the offensive side too. I thank trading Zek and Cooper for a couple picks or a #1 CB and a pick.. And draft some talent like Chase or Pitts hell if they can trade both Cooper and Zek to maybe Miami for Howard and the 6th pick.. That would give the cowboys 6th and 10th and a true #1 CB and the cowboys could have Pitts and Chase and Dak would have the best receiveing core in football.. Just cutting Zek is a waste he is still in his prime and can be dealt the Miami deal could happen in my opinion there looking to make it to the playoffs and a trade like this would help both teams
As a long time fan of the Cowboys, stop drafting players from losing programs, Alabama players are ideal, well coached and use to winning.