Former Kansas Jayhawks defensive end Dorance Armstrong has earned chance at big payday

Dorance Armstrong played for the Kansas football team for three seasons and accumulated 15.5 sacks during his time in the crimson and blue. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

It was quite an accomplishment for Armstrong to even gain notice by NFL scouts. In his three seasons with KU, the team only won three games total. His seasons were right in the middle of the barren wasteland that was Kansas football before Lance Leipold arrived in Lawrence.

During the first three seasons of his rookie contract with the Cowboys, he didn't do a lot to impress. He notched two and a half sacks and made 61 tackles. In year four, however, he had five sacks and 37 tackles. it was enough for Dallas to offer him a two-year deal for $12 million.

Armstrong rewarded the Cowboys' faith in him by continuing his good play from the edge. Over the last two seasons, he has 16 sacks and 71 tackles. Considering he is still just 26 years old, he could be in line for a nice bump in pay, but probably not from the Cowboys.

The Cowboys probably can't afford to re-sign Dorance Armstrong

According to Over the Cap, the Cowboys are presently more than $10 million over the salary cap. Armstrong is most certainly going to garner more interest and more dollars than the Cowboys will be able to afford.

He won't be anywhere near the kind of deal Chris Jones is looking for, but Armstrong applies enough pressure to quarterbacks, and has enough experience, to draw plenty of interest with teams that do have available money.

His age and experience should put him in line for a nice payday. It is great seeing a former Jayhawk who had so little team success in college, shine in the NFL, with a chance to make some good money.