The Bears are picking up most of Robert Quinn's 2022 salary, agreeing to pay $7.1M and leaving the Eagles responsible for less than $700K. Although Quinn’s Chicago contract ran through 2024, he and his new team agreed to change that.
Quinn and the Eagles agreed to trim both future years off the deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Quinn is now ticketed for free agency in 2023. Both of Quinn’s final two seasons on this contract — a five-year, $70M accord agreed to in 2020 — were nonguaranteed.
Previously, Quinn’s deal carried base salaries of $13.9M in 2023 and $12.9M in 2024. Instead, this shifts to a contract year for the now-thrice-traded pass rusher. Quinn, 32, has only been a free agent once — in 2020 — and he used that opportunity to land $30M guaranteed from the Bears. The former Rams first-rounder has sandwiched two shaky seasons with a monster 2021 campaign, one that undoubtedly enticed the Eagles to send the Bears a fourth-round pick. Quinn registered just two sacks in 2020 and has just one through seven Chicago games this season. He set a Bears single-season record with 18.5 last season.
This restructure follows a similar one in Cleveland. The Browns acquired Deion Jones' through-2023 contract from the Falcons earlier this month, but the parties agreed to lop off the 2023 season from the deal. Like Quinn, Jones is no longer under contract beyond this season. These arrangements will raise the stakes for the two relocating veterans, though both players loomed as potential cap casualties anyway. These restructures will prevent each team from prolonging a separation. Select players receive this treatment annually. The Giants did so with James Bradberry this year, with a May release leading to an Eagles landing.
The Eagles have exclusive negotiating rights with Quinn until next year’s legal tampering period, a two-day window preceding free agency, but it remains to be seen if they will make this partnership more than a rental agreement. While extensions, cap casualties and possible franchise tags will change the equation, next year’s edge rusher market will feature a mix of players seeking second contracts and various veterans.
It seems unlikely Bradley Chubb will be able to hit free agency. Chubb, a current trade candidate, would stand to be the prize next year. Marcus Davenport is also on track to hit the market after a fifth-year option season. Yannick Ngakoue profiles as another young-ish target, as he will only turn 28 in 2023. 49ers backup Charles Omenihu is also due for free agency. Quinn would join a few other vets — Jadeveon Clowney, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram and Dante Fowler among them — in the older wing of the market.
Philadelphia has Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick in place as its long-term defensive end duo. Brandon Graham, 34, is signed through 2023. The longtime Eagle wants to continue his career past 2022. It will be interesting how the Eagles proceed with Graham and Quinn. For now, both 30-something vets are in place as rotational rushers for the 6-0 team. Nick Sirianni said Friday (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, on Twitter) that Quinn will likely make his Eagles debut in Week 8, likely in a limited capacity.
More must-reads: