If there was a moment of Dorance Armstong feeling like a consolation prize in Dallas, he’s certainly not approaching his new contract that way.
The 24-year-old defensive end was a free agent, ready to field calls from interested suitors after posting career-high numbers in starts, tackles, quarterback hits, and sacks last season. But when negotiations with starting edge rusher Randy Gregory on a $70 million deal fell apart at the last minute, re-signing their fourth-round draft pick from 2018 suddenly became a priority for the Cowboys front office.
“This is every NFL player’s dream, just to reach the second contract. No matter where or what it is. “This is a huge blessing,” Armstrong told reporters on a recent conference call.
“This is a place where I was comfortable playing, a place where I knew people wanted me to be.”
Let's keep workin', @Dorance_ALegend ❕
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— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 17, 2022
Armstrong’s two-year, $13 million deal secured his spot in Dallas, after the uncertainty of free agency.
“Honestly, it felt like being drafted again,” Armstrong said. “You just have to sit back and wait until your name is called, and that’s kind of how it was.”
The Kansas product revealed that there were “a couple options out there” when it came to new teams, but now that his deal with the Cowboys has been officially signed, he feels he can get back to work on improving his game.
“I’m not a perfect player,” Armstrong admitted. “I’m not a face-of-the-franchise player, so obviously I have a lot of work to do. And that’s just going to happen over time.”
Armstrong figures to see plenty of reps with the loss of Gregory. He played over half the team’s defensive snaps in 2021, and even with the addition of veteran Dante Fowler, Armstrong says he’ll continue to man both edge and interior spots in the second season of coordinator Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme.
“I like the way he motivates us as the D-line to take over the game, the amount of confidence and belief he has in us to go out there and be ourselves. I love that about him.”
The quietly confident Armstrong says that his approach to 2022 is the same, with or without Gregory in the locker room. But without him vying for playing time, the door is suddenly open for Armstrong to seize a new opportunity to be a full-time stater.
“That’s an open spot. You’ve got to come in and work for it.”
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