NFL insiders break down best fit for Randy Gregory, free agency landing spot

Randy Gregory has hit pothole after pothole in his NFL career, but his talent has always been evident. The Cowboys have been there for Gregory since the beginning, but the former Nebraska star is hitting free agency this offseason.

Questions surround Gregory and his future in Dallas. He has the potential to be a ferocious pass rusher, but he’ll have to decide if he would rather return to the Cowboys and play another season under Dan Quinn, or take his talents elsewhere.

With Super Bowl 56 in the rearview, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen determined the best fit for the 50 best free agents. According to the duo, the best thing for Gregory is to continue his career with the Cowboys.

“No team knows Gregory better than Dallas,” wrote Fowler. “Now that his career is ascending, the Cowboys should reap the benefits with a long-term deal that both sides can appreciate.”

Additionally, Bowen added that returning to the defense led by Quinn could help the talented pass rusher reach his full potential.

“We like Gregory back in Dallas with coordinator Dan Quinn,” wrote Bowen. “Who can set up the veteran pass-rusher to utilize his long frame and lower-body flexibility to win on the edge.”

The Cowboys defense may be crowded, but keeping Gregory would be huge for the unit. After how much work Dallas put into getting Gregory on the field, Jerry Jones and company doesn’t want to see him shine in another uniform.

With Randy Gregory on the squad, the Cowboys defense will remain at a championship level. Losing one of their best pass rushers would be unideal for a team attempting to make a run at Super Bowl 57.

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Gregory, a former star at Nebraska in college, played in 12 games this season for the Cowboys. He totaled 19 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and one interception on the season.

In his NFL career, Gregory has totaled 85 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 52 quarterback hits, 16.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups. The Cowboys selected Gregory with the 60th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

In September of 2016, Gregory received a suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was banned for ten games. He returned after serving that suspension, but less than four months later, the NFL suspended Gregory again, for the third time in his career. Due to it being his third suspension, Gregory’s suspension was for a full year.