Sources: Commanders add Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz

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Monday, March 11, 2024

Defensive end Dorance Armstrong and center Tyler Biadasz will stay in the NFC East and reunite with Dan Quinn after the former Dallas Cowboys standouts reached deals with the Washington Commanders on Monday.

Armstrong reached a three-year deal at a maximum value of $45 million, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Monday.

Biadasz agreed to a deal with the Commanders, sources confirmed to ESPN. Multiple reports said it was a three-year, $30 million deal.

Washington on Monday also agreed to terms on a three-year deal with former Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu that carries a maximum value of $36 million, agent Blake Baratz told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

While Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence gained much of the attention on the Dallas Cowboys' defensive front the last three seasons, Armstrong, 26, posted 21 sacks in that time span.

Quinn served as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator before being hired this offseason as the Commanders' new head coach.

Armstrong had a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2022, and he added 7.5 last season despite playing 97 fewer snaps than he did in 2022.

Armstrong was a free agent following the 2021 season, but the Cowboys were able to re-sign him to a two-year, $12 million contract after Randy Gregory walked away from a deal to join the Denver Broncos.

Armstrong is solid against the run and was a valuable special teams contributor. In 93 games with the Cowboys, he was credited with 169 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 94 quarterback pressures, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. He also blocked two punts and a field goal.

Biadasz, a former fourth-round pick in 2020, started all 49 games he played in the last three seasons with the Cowboys. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022. His responsibilities in protections increased last year and Dak Prescott praised Biadasz's ability to make the correct checks.

The Cowboys never made a big push to re-sign Biadasz, who turns 27 in November, which seems curious because of their desire to keep their own players off the free agent market.

This is the third straight year the Cowboys have lost an offensive lineman in free agency. In 2022, Connor Williams signed with the Miami Dolphins. Last year, Connor McGovern left for the Buffalo Bills.

Center is expected to be a major need for the Cowboys as they look to the draft, but Brock Hoffman did a good job in replacing Biadasz in his first start.

Luvu, who has primarily played inside linebacker for the Panthers since becoming an every-down player, is coming off a career-high 125 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season.

The Panthers signed Luvu to a two-year extension before the 2022 season, believing the former special teams ace would become an every-down player. The move immediately paid off, with him making 111 tackles and career-high seven sacks that season.

He also has 29 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits over the past two seasons combined.

Luvu, 27, also has the ability to slide outside in the 3-4 scheme when needed.

Carolina initially signed Luvu in 2021 after he started only four games in three seasons with the New York Jets. The 2018 undrafted player out of Washington State had six sacks in New York, making his name mostly on special teams.

ESPN's Todd Archer and David Newton contributed to this report.

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