Defensive lineman Arik Armstead is anticipated to become a free agency after one season, only missing out on the opportunity to have his picture displayed in the 49ers’ facility, which honors players who have spent ten or more years with the team.
Armstead and the Niners tried to negotiate a restructured contract, and after getting close but not quite there, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday night that Armstead is anticipated to be released and turn into a free agency.
Armstead just had a season in which he recorded five sacks and 27 tackles while playing in 12 games. However, the Niners were looking for a revised agreement to lower that amount because he will also count $28.53 million against the 2024 salary cap.
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The 49ers would save approximately $18.2 million in cash for the next season if Armstead were released immediately, but they would also face a $25.86 million dead money charge and only save $2.492 million against the cap. However, if the Niners include the post-June 1 designation—which would stretch out the remaining dead money across future years—they may save more than $18 million against the cap.
In addition to getting ready for what may be his second trip into unrestricted free agency, Armstead is also recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee, which he sustained during a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 3. After getting hurt on the second play of the game, Armstead completed it. He didn’t return to action until the NFC divisional round victory over the visiting Green Bay Packers on January 20.
Although he had plantar fasciitis in his feet and knees, which were noted on later injury reports, he said that the knee ailment was the more troublesome of the setbacks following the season.
On February 13, Armstead commented, “I thought my season was over with after the Philly game.” “I tore my meniscus and didn’t know if I was going to be able to come back and put in a lot of hard work to get back for the playoffs.”
Armstead did appear in all three of San Francisco’s playoff games, posting 11 tackles, a sack, seven quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery on 148 snaps. He said in February that while knee surgery will require a lengthy recovery, his hope is to be ready to return sometime in late July or August as training camps get underway.
San Francisco originally used the No. 17 pick in the 2015 NFL draft on Armstead. He began his career as a defensive end, but after dealing with myriad injury issues early in his career, he transitioned into an interior role in 2019. A breakout 10-sack season that year helped him land a five-year, $85 million deal early in 2020 free agency.
Armstead participated in 116 regular-season games over his nine seasons in San Francisco, recording 33.5 career sacks. In 12 postseason games, he has also played and has eight sacks.
Armstead, who was born in neighboring Sacramento, is not only the player with the longest contract in San Francisco but also a well-known philanthropist in the Bay Area and his birthplace. He has been the Niners’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for the previous four years.
