Quinn is a hand on the ground 4-3 DE.
Not a stand up move around 3-4 OLB.
Yes, he is smart enough and athletic enough to adapt to a degree. But he played his entire college career and pro career as a down 4-3 DE. And he's only adequate at best at OLB. His best years are behind him. Still good, though.
Then there's the cap space. $11 - $12 mil. Quinn was just flat lower on the priority list than Watkins, Joyner, NRC, and Donald. No way you resign/extend all those guys, add a couple of mid-tier FAs that you're going to need to fill out the starting D, and keep Quinn.
Quinn was always a favorite of mine and I'm sorry to see him have to go.
It was a pragmatic business decision on the Rams' part.
