Arik Armstead has been with the San Francisco 49ers since the 2015 season when the team made him the No. 17 overall pick. He'll be with the team a lot longer thanks to a five-year extension signed last month.
Armstead has seen a lot of players come and go in his five NFL seasons. Chris Simms of NBC Sports asked him this week to identify the best players he's played with and against during that time, and the answer for the former may surprise you because the two weren't teammates very long.
"The best player I've ever seen on the football field, it was only for a week during my rookie year in training camp," Armstead said, "and that was Aldon Smith. Hands down the best football player I've ever seen in live-action. Just unblockable."
Smith, of course, after several off-the-field issues, was released by the 49ers on August 7, 2015. He spent part of the ensuing season with the Oakland Raiders but has not played since then. Smith is back in the NFL after the Dallas Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal earlier this month.
As for the best player Armstead has played against, that answer isn't too surprising considering the defender faces him twice a year.
"Russell Wilson is always tough to play against," Armstead said after some thought. "We've had plenty of battles. So I would say, consistently, he's probably the toughest because we play against him so much."
Armstead noted that offensive lineman Tyron Smith is always a challenge to go against, too. He also mentioned the Seattle Seahawks offensive line as a whole. What makes that unit so difficult to face?
"They just hold so much, and the refs never seem to call it," Armstead said with a smile. "I guess when you're allowed to hold, it gets tough out there, for sure."
