As reported by various media outlets, the San Francisco 49ers are set to part ways with defensive lineman Arik Armstead due to their failure to reach an agreement on restructuring his contract.
NBC’s Matt Maiocco stated that Armstead declined a substantial reduction in his scheduled salary of $17.4 million for the upcoming season, which would have marked the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract. Consequently, Armstead will become a free agent.
The NFL’s free agency period officially kicks off on Wednesday. News of Armstead’s impending release has surfaced just before the start of the tampering period on Monday, allowing teams and pending free agents to engage in negotiations.
Armstead, with nine seasons under his belt, has spent his entire NFL career with the 49ers, proving to be a crucial asset in the team’s pass rush. He has also started for two teams that made it to the Super Bowl, making him the longest-tenured player on the roster.
Following his impressive 2019 season, where he recorded a career-high 10 sacks, Armstead signed his $85 million deal. However, his sack numbers have seen a decline in the subsequent four seasons, totaling 14.5 sacks, including five in the 2023 season.
Alongside his sack stats, he contributed 27 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and four tackles for loss in 12 games. Notably, he made six tackles and secured a sack against Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
Armstead’s contract was projected to have a $28.4 million impact on San Francisco’s salary cap for the next season. Reports suggest that, depending on the timing and method of his release, the team could gain anywhere from $2.5 million to $18 million in cap space.
According to Dave Lombardi of The Athletic, the latter option would require a post-June 1 release designation, which seems unlikely given the reported imminent release of Armstead. A release before the start of free agency would provide the 49ers with $2.5 million in cap relief.
The 49ers are currently projected to be $3.4 million over the salary cap, excluding the impact of Armstead’s release. Furthermore, the team faces other significant decisions regarding their defensive line, including the status of Chase Young, who was acquired before the trade deadline.
