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Over the next two weeks, Acme Packing Company takes a look at each position group on the Green Bay Packers and provides grades and insight on how they performed in the 2017 season. Today, we examine the defensive line.
The defensive line was an absolute strength for the Packers, led by Mike Daniels, the quickly ascending Kenny Clark, and the plucky Dean Lowry. The reserves feature sup-package players with specialized skills, and while they may not see many snaps of put up huge numbers, they are important weapons in counteracting certain offensive packages. One such player may be leaving Green Bay after a solid season.
Quinton Dial
NFL Experience: 5 years
FA Status: Unrestricted free agent
Expiring Contract: 1 year, $750,001
2017 Stats: 13 games, 19 tackles, 1 pass defended.
Quinton Dial was signed a few days after final cuts to provide depth along the defensive line and as a run-stopping sub-package player. A former 5th rounder out of Alabama, Dial is a one trick pony and not much more, but that one trick is pretty good. As an interior heavy,Dial did his job filing in for or complementing Kenny Clark, occupying space, and letting the backers behind him clean up.
Dial will never blow anyone away and while he has recorded a sack or two in his day that’s not really his game, but as an emergency starter you could do worse. The Packers run defense was actually quite good for the second year in a row, and Dial was a big part of that success. He will likely wind up somewhere on a similar, near-minimum contract, and it may as well be with the Packers.