How Jayron Kearse’s past could help extend his future in Dallas
Still unsigned as a free agent, could safety Jayron Kearse eventually find his way back to the Cowboys? Perhaps his time in Minnesota under Mike Zimmer could help.
Safety Jayron Kearse is one of the few Cowboys free agents still left on the open market. The longer he goes unsigned, the chances he might re-up with Dallas increase. One factor that might help get Kearse back with the team is that he still has a potential advocate in Mike Zimmer, who was his first NFL head coach with the Vikings.
It’s no surprise that Kearse has yet to get a new contract from Dallas. They’re well stocked at safety with starters Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson, plus exciting young backups in Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas. If they even keep a fifth guy, it would probably be someone who can double as a cornerback like Israel Mukuamu.
Kearse turned 30 in February and was already looking a step slower last year. He’s been an incredible find for Dallas, going from an offseason afterthought in 2021 to being one of the defensive leaders for three seasons. But after getting a late start to becoming an impact player, Kearse is unfortunately slowing down just as his career started heating up.
Still, the longer he remains a free agent, Kearse’s asking price is likely dropping. It’s possible that a coach familiar with his work in Dallas, like Dan Quinn in Washington or Aden Durde in Seattle, might be waiting until after the draft to see if they have a need for him. But the Cowboys also could offer him a chance to return at that point, if nothing else to compete with younger guys and provide some injury insurance.
While Kearse has lost some advocates with departing coaches from last year, did he get a new one in Mike Zimmer? When Kearse was a seventh-round pick for the Vikings in 2016, Zimmer was their head coach. Kearse played four seasons for Minnesota, all under Zimmer, but only in backup and special teams roles. He didn’t blossom as a player until hooking up with Quinn in Dallas.
We know that Zimmer has a voice in the Cowboys’ front office, no doubt influencing the signing of veteran LB Eric Kendricks. But while Kendricks was a star for Zimmer and fills a much-needed spot on Dallas’ roster, Kearse was a depth guy in Minnesota and the Cowboys may not have room for him now. Kearse’s role under Quinn as a hybrid linebacker on passing downs is unlikely to transition to Zimmer’s scheme.
But at the very least, Zimmer was the coach who brought Kearse into the NFL. For a seventh-round pick to see all four years of his rookie contract is no small accomplishment; some don’t ever even make a roster. If Zimmer still has a fondness for Kearse, maybe he’d find a way to use him at the right price.
It takes two to tango; maybe Jayron Kearse doesn’t want to return to Dallas only to be Donovan Wilson’s backup. Maybe he’s already turned down a contract offer from the Cowboys, hoping for more money or opportunity elsewhere. But if Kearse’s unemployment continues, who knows what might happen? Dan Quinn might be gone, but Kearse was a Mike Zimmer guy before he ever got to Dallas.
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