When Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters began his roster overhaul in 2024, the biggest contract he shelled out in free agency was for defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. But two years later, his long-term future looks murkier than ever.
Armstrong been a solid contributor and was in the midst of a breakout campaign before injury struck. How he comes back will likely determine whether the Commanders give him another deal when the 2027 offseason rolls around.
The former Kansas State star signed a three-year, $33 million deal with a $15 million signing bonus and $22.12 million guaranteed, which is modest by NFL standards. It looked like an absolute steal when Armstrong played very well last year. He appeared to be a foundational piece of the Commanders’ revamped defense.
Commanders could have a problem brewing with Dorance Armstrong Jr.
That may no longer be the case.
Armstrong was a major influence on the team's early success. Though not as flashy as the linebackers, he provided the Commanders’ steadiest performance at defensive end since the club traded Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
His numbers in 2024 weren’t special, but his overall play was solid. Armstrong registered the highest pass rush grade of his career, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2025, he appeared to be building on that.
Through the first six games of the season, Armstrong recorded 5.5 sacks. He had at least one quarterback hit in every game. He also notched seven tackles for loss through those contests.
Projected over a full season, those are Pro Bowl-caliber numbers. Armstrong was 29 with one year left on his contract, and Peters must have been thinking about an extension.
It all came crashing down when a significant knee injury ended Armstrong's 2025 campaign in a game against his old team, the Dallas Cowboys. The Commanders were already missing their other starting end, Deatrich Wise Jr., and primary backup Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Losing their best edge defender devastated an already suspect front.
It left both the player and his general manager in a difficult situation. Armstrong is due $12.35 million in the final year of his contract and carries a dead cap hit of $9 million if he's traded or released. Assuming he returns healthy for 2026, he should resume his role as a leader on the defensive line. But does he have a future beyond that?
Prior to this year, the answer seemed obvious. But he turns 30 in the summer of 2027. Defensive ends can certainly remain productive into their early 30s, but no player at any position gets healthier at that age.
Armstrong had some ankle issues in Dallas that caused him to miss some time, but he had been relatively durable over the last few seasons. He missed a few games in 2024 with a rib injury. The question for Peters is how effective the well-rounded player will be in his career twilight.
The knee injury was reportedly serious, so there is no telling when Armstrong will return. He is a bigger player who does not rely on speed, but players aged 30 or over rarely return to their previous level of effectiveness once problems in this area of the body surface.
That unfortunate reality shifts Armstrong from building block to question mark entering 2026.