49ers reportedly plan to release DL Arik Armstead after he declined 'significant' pay cut

[Auggie]

The San Francisco 49ers intend to release defensive lineman Arik Armstead after the two sides failed to agree on a restructured contract, according to multiple media reports.

Per NBC's Matt Maiocco, Armstead declined to take "a significant pay cut" to his scheduled salary of $17.4 million next season on the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract. He'll hit the market as a free agent.

SNIP

Armstead, 30, has played his entire nine-season NFL career with the 49ers. He's been a key piece of San Francisco's pass rush and started for two teams that advanced to the Super Bowl. He was the longest-tenured player on the team.

Armstead's contract was scheduled to count $28.4 million against San Francisco's salary cap next season. Depending on how and when it's designated, his release reportedly could open up anywhere from $2.5 million to $18 million in cap space.

https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-reportedly-plan-to-release-dl-arik-armstead-after-he-declined-significant-pay-cut-024844989.html

Huge news in San Francisco. This suggests they're all-in to re-sign free agent defensive end Clelin Ferrell, a run-stopping specialist, whose loss to a knee injury in Week 18 was felt throughout the playoffs.

[calguy]

1. Arik Armstead is a good player and a quality person

I love having him in the defense. Unfortunately for him and the team, he's missed too many games to injury to warrant the kind of money he's making. The Niners have an aging core of quality players that's going to have to be rotated annually if they are to remain perennial play off contenders.
They've also asked Kyle Juszczyk to take a pay cut, which I'm pretty sure he will, because there's not many places he can play in his position and at age 33, I doubt any team would pay him anywhere close to what he made last year.

[Auggie]

2. Agree

Armstead's best days are behind them. He'd be coming off knee surgery and a plantar fasciitis injury that bugged him all year. Damn shame, but that's football.

49ers have 11 draft picks, four of which are compensatory, in which to fill out the roster, plus some cap room for free agent. Some of their best values have come in the 3rd and 4th rounds.

Round 1, No. 31
Round 2, No. 63
Round 3, No. 94
Round 4, No. 123 (via Dallas Cowboys)
Round 4, No. 130
Round 4, No. 133 (compensatory)
Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 211 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 215 (compensatory)
Round 7, No. 232 (via Denver Broncos)
Round 7, No. 251

[Auggie]

3. 49ers signed Browns' Jordan Elliot, defensive tackle

He's 26, a 2020 third-round pick, and he's healthy. He rounds out a starting four (unless someone better emerges) of Bosa, Hargrave, and Floyd.

S.F. also agreed to terms with Panthers' edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos, who they hope to develop into a more consistent player. Drake Jackson and Robert Beal are other lineman under contract.

[Maxheader]

4. Didn't figure the niners..

would even field a team next year after getting beat twice by a midwest bunch of footballers....

[Brother Buzz]

5. Arik Armstead landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars

A respectable three-year, $43.5 million contract with a team that will totally embrace him

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke, who drafted Armstead with the No. 17 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft when he held the same position with the 49ers, offered a chance at a reunion. The two sides agreed on a three-year, $43.5 million contract, bringing the defensive tackle to the sunshine state through the 2026 season.

https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/arik-armstead-new-chapter-no-animosity/1727613/

[Auggie]

6. Thanks for the update

Sorry to see him go.