San Francisco 49ers captain and defensive tackle Arik Armstead remains at risk of being released as NFL free agency increases. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the 49ers planned to release Armstead because he refused to take a pay cut given the team’s dire salary cap situation. Pro Football Talk’s Chris Sims gave his opinion on the 49ers’ decision regarding the $85 million star’s future. “This is a good player, there’s no doubt about that… but they’ve already spent a lot of money on a defensive front seven of Nick Bosa, [Javon] Hargrave, [and] Fred Warner.
We’re investing,” Sims said Monday. “These are guys that are paid at the top of the market. As far as what’s their concern, Armstead [is] getting up there in age a little bit. Armstead was beat up for a lot of the year this year.”
“Armstead was being paid the amount of money that he doesn’t perform to the guys that are in his class right now … Vita Vea, Jonathan Allen, [and] Kenny Clark,” Simms added. “They’re in the 17 million per year range. He’s not that right now, so I can understand the 49ers is asking, ‘hey … last year of your contract, take a little pay cut here’ [and] he said no, and I can understand the 49ers saying ‘see you later’ [and] I can understand both sides saying no here,” Simms continued. “I don’t think there will be reconciliation between these two people.
I think… those days are over,” Sims concluded. Last season, Armstead had 27 tackles and five sacks in 12 games. His release ends a nine-year career with the 49ers, where he was drafted 17th overall out of Oregon State in 2015.
