FILE - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) runs during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Washington Commanders have agreed to deals with center Tyler Biadasz and defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong, according to two people familiar with the agreements. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday, March 11, 2024, because the contracts cannot be made official until the new league year opens Wednesday.(AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr., File)
WASHINGTON (AP) – The first couple of forays into free agency for the Washington Commanders are players new coach Dan Quinn knows well from his time with the rival Dallas Cowboys.
The third is a new face at perhaps their biggest area of need on defense.
After getting deals done with former Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong, Washington reached an agreement Monday to sign linebacker Frankie Luvu. The contract for Luvu is for three years and worth up to $36 million, according to his agency, Team IFA.
The team earlier agreed to deals with Biadasz for three years and $30 million and Armstrong for three years up to $45 million, according to two people familiar with the agreements. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contracts cannot be made official until the new league year opens Wednesday.
The NFL’s negotiating period for free agents began at noon EDT. Armed with the most salary cap space in the league, new general manager Adam Peters wasted little time spending it.
Luvu, 27, led the Carolina Panthers and ranked 22nd among all players in tackles last season with 125. The American Samoa native also had 5 1/2 sacks and gives Washington’s defense under Quinn and new coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. some experience at a position that was devalued under former coach Ron Rivera, interestingly a former linebacker.
Biadasz was the Cowboys’ starting center during Quinn’s entire three-year tenure as defensive coordinator, when he was working on the other side of the trenches. Armstrong had been a reserve with Dallas since 2018, appearing in 47 games and starting Dallas while Quinn was running the defense.
Signing Biadasz is the latest step in overhauling the offensive line, which allowed quarterback Sam Howell to be sacked an NFL-high 65 times last season. The Commanders released starting left tackle Charles Leno and informed center Nick Gates he was being released.
Armstrong, who has 23 1/2 sacks in his pro career, including 7 1/2 last season, joins a front four that already includes stalwart defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The addition of the soon-to-be 27-year-old helps Washington fill the edge rushing void left by trading Chase Young to San Francisco and Montez Sweat to Chicago.
Bringing in players familiar to coaches on staff is an early theme of the offseason. Washington last week agreed to sign veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who played for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury when he coached the Arizona Cardinals.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed.
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