Frankie Luvu, Dorance Armstrong agree to deals

WASHINGTON — Reset, revamp, recalibrate — whatever the Washington Commanders want to call it, they’re in the midst of a full rebuild with a new general manager, Adam Peters, and a new coaching staff led by Dan Quinn. Soon, they could have a new quarterback and an overhauled roster.

Lucky for the Commanders, they’re loaded with resources. In addition to having the No. 2 pick in the draft (along with eight other selections), they have more than $90 million in salary cap space to spread around the roster, according to Spotrac and Over the Cap.

Here’s a look at the players headed to Washington in free agency:

Luvu adds to LBs corps

Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders that has a maximum value of $36 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. The deal gives Washington a top talent at a position that has been sorely lacking for years.

Luvu signed with the New York Jets as a college free agent in 2018 and bounced on off the roster and practice squad his first two seasons before bursting onto the scene in Carolina. He arrived as a reserve linebacker and special teamer, but proved himself as much more, totaling 111 tackles and seven sacks, a pick-six, four passes defended and one forced fumble in 2022. Last season, he had 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits, plus five passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Regarded as one of the league’s top pass-rushing linebackers, Luvu has totaled 43 quarterback pressures and 62 run stops since 2022, ranking fourth and 12th, respectively, among linebackers in that span, according to Pro Football Focus.

Armstrong to help pass rush

Washington is starting to rebuild its pass rush. The team agreed Monday to a threeyear, $33 million deal with former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong, two people knowledge of the situation said. The contract is worth up to $45 million with performance incentives.

The Commanders are betting Armstrong will continue growing as he did over six seasons with the Cowboys, whose defense was helmed by Quinn the past three years. He entered the league at just 20 — a fourthround pick out of Kansas in 2018 — and developed into a solid, versatile rotational edge rusher. Now, Washington will probably give Armstrong, 26, his biggest role yet as a regular starter.

The question is whether Armstrong can keep producing in more snaps. He had a

BRIAN WESTERHOLT/AP Former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, standing on the sideline before a game against the Falcons on Dec. 17, is heading to Washington after agreeing to a three-year deal worth up to $63 million, according to his agency, Team IFA.