3 Vikings Mike Zimmer Could Lure to the Cowboys
The Cowboys have their defensive coordinator. He can use his Minnesota Vikings connections to bring elite talent to Dallas.
It may have taken longer than anticipated, but the Dallas Cowboys finally have their defensive coordinator. Despite rumors of other candidates emerging in the last second, the Cowboys announced Mike Zimmer as Dan Quinn’s replacement on Monday.
Zimmer is perhaps best known as the former head coach for the Minnesota Vikings between 2014 and 2021. In his eight seasons there, Zimmer’s teams have consistently been one of the most elite defensive units in the NFL, ranking top-four in the league in yards allowed for three straight seasons.
Even though he hasn’t coached for the past two seasons, his defensive reputation is still intact. He will have a chance to use his connections with his former players to bring them to Dallas to chase that Super Bowl win that eluded them in Minnesota.
Here are some likely candidates that Zimmer could lure to the Cowboys this offseason.
Anthony Barr, EDGE
When the Dallas Cowboys signed Barr in free agency in 2022, things didn’t work out well for either side. The former Pro Bowl linebacker failed to make much of an impact in his one season in Dallas while struggling with injuries at the same time. He then went back to Minnesota for the 2023 season, mostly spending time with the practice squad and only appearing in four games.
However, Barr and Zimmer go way back as the edge defender was first drafted by the Vikings in Zimmer’s first season there. He made four straight Pro Bowl appearances in Minnesota as he became one of the best in his position.
Barr is certainly not the player he once was as injuries have taken a toll on the 31-year-old. However, his familiarity with Zimmer and the Cowboys organization makes him an intriguing option for the veteran minimum. He is not going to change the fate of the franchise but his experience can prove useful in a limited role in certain matchups.
Considering that the Cowboys don’t need high-end additions to their defensive line, a veteran backup with the talent and intelligence Barr possesses might be all they need in terms of depth.
D.J. Wonnum, EDGE
The former fourth-round pick for the Minnesota Vikings, D.J. Wonnum has gradually established himself as a solid defensive end in the NFL. Having just finished his fourth season in the league, Wonnum has played 83% of snaps in 2023, finishing with 62 tackles and eight sacks for the season.
Wonnum is not a household name in the NFL due to the fact that he has gone under the radar as Minnesota failed to make noise in the postseason during his tenure there. But, he has been a consistent contributor that should be considered as an attractive option for Zimmer.
Wonnum is a free agent this offseason and the Vikings should want to keep him around. However, if not, the edge rusher would be an excellent depth option in Dallas.
Over The Cap projects Wonnum’s valuation at $9.8 million per year, but it would be very surprising if it would require that much for a team to poach him.
Dorance Armstrong re-signed with the Cowboys for two years, $12 million back in 2022. It’s hard to see Wonnum getting much more than that.
Danielle Hunter and Mike Zimmer worked together in Minnesota for the first seven seasons of the Pro Bowl pass rusher’s career. Hunter emerged as one of the best edge defenders in the league under Zimmer, and at age 29, he is nowhere near slowing down. In fact, he finished 2023 with a career-best 16.5 sacks and a league-leading 23 tackles for loss, while making his fourth Pro Bowl appearance.
Now Hunter is hitting free agency for a big payday and the Vikings can’t use a franchise tag on him. The Bears and Jaguars are seen as the frontrunners to sign him in March.
However, the Cowboys could quickly emerge as an option if Hunter wanted to reunite with his former head coach who helped him go from being a third-round pick to an elite pass rusher who got a five-year, $72 million contract.
The addition of Hunter would certainly relieve the pain of the potential departures of Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong in free agency. Hunter would most likely require over $15 million per season on a multiyear contract but perhaps he would be willing to give his old boss a discount. If he does, slotting him on the opposite side of Micah Parsons would be a scary sight for the rest of the league.
