Adam Peters has a lot of hard work ahead this offseason. The Washington Commanders' ambition to win the Super Bowl took a massive hit. Now it's time to consolidate and adjust accordingly, but fans remain confident that they have the right man to spearhead this franchise into a prosperous new era.
One of the first items on Peters' agenda will be to sort out the future of those looking for new deals. The Commanders have more pending free agents than any other club, and not everyone is going to stick around. Not only this, but there could be some players with years remaining on their contracts who'll be seeking extensions in advance.
Five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil seems the most likely candidate. Veteran edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. is another, although the Commanders will probably wait to see how his knee injury heals up before concluding one way or another.
Commanders edge rusher Dorance Armstrong projected to get massive payrise on next deal
Armstrong was in the midst of a breakout campaign before getting hurt. He was among the NFL's sack leaders, emerging as a potential No. 1 option who got a new lease of life. This was a massive positive at the best possible time and will also raise the cost of his contract extension when the time comes.
According to market projections from Spotrac, Armstrong could get $19.9 million per year on a three-year contract worth $59.7 million on his next deal. That's a substantial leap from anything he's earned previously, but whether the Commanders would be willing to pay this much is another matter.
The former Kansas standout is ascending, but there is just no telling how much the season-ending knee problem could impact his ability to be impactful. Armstrong is young enough to bounce back accordingly. Still, it gives the Commanders enough cause to pause right now.
While the projection is precisely that, this looks like a wait-and-see scenario for the Commanders. Armstrong is under contract for 2026, carrying a $12.35 million cap charge with no guaranteed money. No guarantees for a breakout star, regardless of whether they are hurt or not, typically means extension talks will be on the horizon. But the health complication changes everything.
Peters is a forward planner. He's always thinking two steps ahead. And even though there are far more pressing priorities next spring, the front-office leader also knows that not extending Armstrong now could lead to higher long-term costs.
Perhaps something could be resolved a little later in the summer. But the Commanders could easily ride it out and see if Armstrong's improved production is the start of something more.