FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys and Dan Quinn have made bolstering the secondary a priority in free agency. After he visited the Star on Wednesday, the Cowboys and former Atlanta Falcons safety Damontae Kazee agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Kazee joins the squad after the club signed former Falcons’ safety Keanu Neal and former Vikings/Lions’ safety Jayron Kearse. Kazee reunites with Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. in Dallas. The former fifth round pick played under Quinn for four seasons in Atlanta (2017-2020). The current Cowboys’ defensive coordinator drafted him, and Dallas’ secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. occupied the same role for Kazee in Atlanta in 2020.
He has familiarity with the coaching staff already and the Cowboys will likely be using Quinn’s “Seattle” coverage tendencies in the backfield. Quinn predominately used a cover one (single high safety) and cover three scheme in Atlanta with Kazee as a free safety. He has the rotation ability to play strong safety and nickel corner.
Kazee comes with a great range, instincts, football intelligence, ball-tracking ability, and speed to stay on top of receivers. Throughout his four-year tenure with the Falcons, Kazee notched 10 interceptions, 13 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, and 199 combined tackles in 34 game starts (52 played).
The downside to his ability is discipline with tackling. He will punish ball carriers with hard hits but does not necessarily wrap-up tackles. Not always fundamentally sound when he throws his body to try and strip the ball loose. However, the biggest concern facing Kazee is his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in 2020 that ended his season prematurely.
The Cowboys main objective during his visit was to go through medical evaluations before he signed the dotted line and the club committed. Evidently the tests all came back positive and Kazee will be ready for training camp. Dallas obviously showed a good sign of faith and is a promising testament to the belief that Kazee will be able to return to pre-injured form.
His signing likely will not prevent the Cowboys from taking a safety in the draft but will add depth and starting safety experience opposite Donovan Wilson. Xavier Woods, the club’s previous starting free safety, will likely test the open market in free agency and part ways with the Cowboys. Leaving a vacant role that needs to be filled.
