The Dallas Cowboys have been busy, shoring up their roster with returning free agents. They agreed to terms with Bryan Anger on Tuesday, bringing their total bring-back haul to 10 of their 23 free agents with three lost. Two of those 10 players were linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and defensive end Dorance Armstrong, two career-long Cowboys out of the 2018 draft class.
Now, the details of those deals have been established. Vander Esch’s deal is for one year, $2 million, with up to $1 million in playing time incentives. Meanwhile Armstrong’s two-year, $13 million pact includes a void year to help defer some of the cap hit.
Leighton Vander Esch (Cowboys) one year, $2M, $500K signing bonus, $1.75M gtd, $1.25M salary (gtd), $14,760 per game active roster bonus, up to $1M playtime incentives, $150,000 workout base de-escalator clause
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 22, 2022
In the first half of the 2021 season, Vander Esch’s was up in the air. As his play had regressed, a fate similar to what Jaylon Smith met in the first third of the season wasn’t out of the question. When Jabril Cox went down with a torn ACL, Vander Esch was thrust into extra playing time and improved towards the tail end of the year.
This is a prove-it deal for the Boise State product and a $2 million contract doesn’t pose any risks for the Cowboys. If his play continues to improve, he earns a spot next to linebacker Micah Parsons. If not? He’ll likely be finding a new home in 2023.
Contract terms for Cowboys DE Dorance Armstrong: two years, $13M, including $1M in sack incentives, source said. Has 2024 void year for early cap relief. Armstrong is fully guaranteed $6M, including $4.5M signing bonus. Has $500K roster bonus each year. 2022 cap hit: $3.38M.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 22, 2022
While Vander-Esch’s deal was a small one, Armstrong gets a huge pay raise. In his first four years in Dallas, Armstrong never had a cap hit larger than $1.09 million. Now, he has a base salary of $1.5 million in 2022 with a $3.38 million cap hit.
2021 was Armstrong’s best season in the NFL with a career high 37 tackles and five sacks in just 13 games. With Randy Gregory heading to Denver, there’s a big hole at right defensive end and Armstrong is the most likely replacement if Parsons doesn’t get thrust into heavy snaps as a pass rusher.
Armstrong’s deal is a big jump and a cap hit of $7 million in 2023 puts pressure on him to ascend into a starting role for Dan Quinn. The Cowboys’ decisions in the draft will reflect their plans for Armstrong, and a big year could be ahead for him across from left defensive end Demarcus Lawrence.
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