The San Francisco 49ers entered free agency needing to make some moves to get under the 2024 salary cap. After trading three first-round picks for Trey Lance, the 49ers did not have enough draft capital to infuse the roster with young, cost-effective playmakers. Because of this, they had to find talent on the open market, which is not a cheap thing to do. The bill has finally come due, as the 49ers released a great defensive lineman in Arik Armstead, who should have no trouble finding a new team as a free agent.
DL Arik Armstead officially released. https://t.co/vSgjAyMhPF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
The 49ers reportedly approached Arik Armstead about taking a pay cut earlier in the offseason, and the free agent refused. This left the team with no choice but to cut the veteran, as San Francisco now saves $18 million against the cap by designating the move a post-June 1st transaction.
49ers Release Arik Armstead, Should Have Free Agent Interest
Teams release veteran players all the time, and it’s usually because their play no longer matches their salary. Arik Armstead signed a massive five-year, $85 million contract the first time he was a free agent, and while the 49ers didn’t have the cap space for him, he is still playing like one of the game’s best defensive tackles.
The interior defender appeared in 12 games last year, recording five sacks, 27 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and 13 quarterback hits while on the field. These are solid numbers for an interior pass rusher, and his 78.4 PFF grade tells us that he was consistently winning his reps. What’s most impressive is his 86.5 pass-rush grade, which ranked fifth in the league out of 109 eligible interior linemen.
The only concern with Armstead is his injury history. The former first-round pick has appeared in just 21 regular season games over the past two seasons, which will lower his overall earnings on the open market. With that being said, Arik Armstead will still garner plenty of interest as a free agent, and these teams should be fighting over the right to sign him.
Best Team Fits
Tennessee Titans
The Tennesee Titans have been one of the big winners of free agency. After signing Calvin Ridley and securing their interior offensive line, this team has done a lot to support second-year quarterback Will Levis. The only glaring needs left on the roster are tackle and defensive tackle, and Arik Armstead can fill one of those needs as a free agent. With Armstead signed, this team can select a tackle with their first-round pick and prepare for a possible playoff run in 2024.
Houston Texans
Speaking of AFC South teams going nuts in free agency, the Houston Texans are making the most of their championship window. With franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud on a rookie contract, Houston is making the most out of the biggest competitive advantage a team could ever get. Arik Armstead would only improve this dangerous pass rush, and the free agent would help this team become one of the most complete units in the game.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints will have a hell of a time making the money work on this one, but nobody in the league is better at circumventing the salary cap. With head coach Dennis Allen on the hot seat, the Saints might spend up on Arik Armstead and use the free agent to plug one of the biggest holes left on the roster. With the Falcons getting notably better and Tampa Bay bringing the gang back for another go, New Orleans needs to do something to improve if they want to compete in the NFC South.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have struggled to plug their defensive tackle position for years. Now, Arik Armstead is a free agent, and former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh should jump on the opportunity to add someone this talented into the mix. While the two never crossed paths in San Francisco, it’s safe to assume that the former first-round pick would be a perfect fit here, and the Chargers should be able to make the money work after releasing Mike Wiliams and restructuring Khalil Mack.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
