Commanders would be foolish not to pursue this unheralded edge rusher

The Washington Commanders would be foolish not to pursue this unheralded edge rusher with connections to Dan Quinn in free agency.

It's no secret that the Washington Commanders are on the lookout for pass-rushing assistance this offseason. Trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the 2023 deadline was a necessary evil. One that gave the franchise some extra financial flexibility and additional draft assets to help with their upcoming rebuild.

Going down the college route will be considered. The Commanders also have the league's most available salary-cap space to find a proven edge performer in free agency should they wish. Something new general manager Adam Peters must strongly consider despite his intent to build through the draft.

Big names such as Josh Allen and Brian Burns are coming up in speculation. Both could receive the franchise tag from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers respectively. The Commanders might also target a big fish such as Danielle Hunter for a short-term solution.

Commanders should consider signing Dorance Armstrong Jr.

However, there is another option worthy of consideration. One going relatively unheralded compared to others. He also has a strong connection with new Washington head coach Dan Quinn to further lend intrigue to this scenario.

Dorance Armstrong Jr. played the best football of his professional career under Quinn during their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. Although this was primarily from a rotational role, the defensive end flashed tremendous promise over the last two seasons. He's ascending at the right time and at 26 years old, has plenty of good seasons left in the tank.

Armstrong might not be the biggest name available, but he knows what Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. demand from their players. His 16 sacks, 28 quarterback hits, and 33 pressures over the last two campaigns indicate more could be on the way with increased responsibilities.

One overlooked part of Armstrong's game is his ability against the run. He developed a strong core base that allows him to set the edge consistently. He's typically known as a pass-rushing specialist, but the former fourth-round pick's growth in this area is something Quinn knows first-hand.

Much will depend on the money involved and whether the Cowboys want to keep him around. Armstrong is incredibly dependable and durable. He has the sort of mindset Quinn is looking for. Their familiarity only sweetens the pot.

When one factors everything into the equation, Washington would be foolish not to consider the prospect of bringing Armstrong on board. Having the insight of Quinn and Whitt could help tip the scales. If they give it the green light, having so many recognizable faces from his previous team would smooth the transition enormously.

The Commanders might have something bigger planned, which is fine. Even if they go after a marquee target, adding someone like Armstrong if the price is right could be a significant asset to their defensive rotation.

Peters and Quinn have endless opinions available throughout their first offseason as Washington's power couple. It's a monumental challenge to drag the Commanders out of the bottom feeders and back to respectability, but they could do far worse than look in Armstrong's direction.