Cowboys: 3 2022 free agency mistakes Jerry Jones regrets

Jerry Jones decisions Cowboys owner, GM regrets: 2. Overpaying Dorance Armstrong

Parsons isn’t the only mistake the Cowboys made at edge rusher a season ago. Giving Armstrong a two-year, $13 million contract underestimated just how much of a star Parsons was going to become at the defensive end position.

Cowboys fans will point to the nine sacks Armstrong racked up as evidence that his contract is a bargain. That total flatters how he played. His PFF grade of 61.8 shows just how empty that sack total actually was.

Like Fowler, he really didn’t do anything for the defense other than rush the passer on obvious passing downs. He really struggled to do anything against the run. His snaps were also very limited by Parsons being a superstar ahead of him on the depth chart.

Armstrong isn’t the worst option as a backup defensive end but the Cowboys could have spent the six million used to retain him to bring in a starter at another position. He might earn even more money in his next contract if he flirts with double-digit sacks again but Dallas shouldn’t fall into the trap of overpaying him any longer.