Defensive lineman Arik Armstead remembers what life with the San Francisco 49ers was like before quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's arrival. Armstead, drafted to the team in 2015, spent two-and-a-half seasons in Santa Clara before a mid-season 2017 trade sent Garoppolo from the New England Patriots to the Bay Area squad.
Armstead saw his 49ers go 8-35 between being drafted No. 17 overall in 2015 through Garoppolo's first start with the team in 2017. The quarterback is 31-14 as a starter since, and has helped the 49ers reach two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl in the past three seasons.
Armstead wanted to remind Garoppolo's critics how far the 49ers have come thanks to the quarterback.
"Man, I think people got short-term memory loss or something because before Jimmy came—he saved us," Armstead, a Sacramento native, said as a guest on Monday during "Kings Pregame Live" (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area). "I won two games, four games, and when Jimmy came, he really turned it around, really brought us to the point where we are at now."
Most expect the Niners to part ways with Garoppolo and his over $25 million salary-cap hit, likely trading him before the draft, if not before the start of the new league year on March 16. That would make last year's No. 3 overall pick, Trey Lance, the starter in 2022.
Armstead was asked if it was time for the 21-year-old Lance to take over.
"Yeah, I think so," Armstead responded. "I think that's going to be the plan going into the season. Trey's a young guy who's very talented and has a great demeanor. He came in and didn't say too much, just willing to learn and try to figure out how to play the position, and I'm excited to see it."
If Garoppolo isn't Armstead's teammate moving forward, the defensive end wanted to make sure everyone knows how much the quarterback's efforts are appreciated.
"I have nothing but love and respect for Jimmy," Armstead continued, "being able to see what goes into it, what he goes through day in and day out, and I wish nothing but the best for him, and that's my guy."