The San Francisco 49ers locked up defensive lineman Arik Armstead this week, signing the team's sack leader from last season to a five-year deal worth up to $85 million.
"I really didn't want to be anywhere else," Armstead told Steve Wyche of NFL Network on Wednesday. "... Going through the process, I never really imagined myself anywhere else, so it wasn't about, necessarily, the money, for me. I wanted to be in San Fran, try to get back to the Super Bowl."
SF @49ers DL Arik Armstead discusses his new deal, losing @DeForestBuckner and the Brady to SF chatter. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/2MgYKZbbnq
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 18, 2020
The deal cost a lot for the 49ers. It wasn't just the value of the contract. It meant the team would have to part ways with one of its best players in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall pick in next months' draft.
Buckner and Armstead played college football together at Oregon and were close friends. Being able to play together in the NFL for four seasons was a blessing, but it wasn't meant to last.
Never to be duplicated @DeForestBuckner #twintowers pic.twitter.com/XWLxEaS9DY
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) March 16, 2020
While Armstead is happy to be able to stay in Northern California, the area where he grew up, it was hard watching his friend depart for another team.
"Super excited that he got that payday," Armstead said of Buckner. "I wish it was with us. Me and DeFo have been playing alongside each other for so many years now. It was definitely a weird day, you know, mixed emotions.
"I'm super happy for him, that he got that payday, and I know he's going to do great things out there, but I definitely still wish we were playing together and continuing our careers together."