The San Francisco 49ers would like to re-sign defensive end Arik Armstead but don't feel that they will be able to, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The fifth-year defender racked up a team-leading 10 sacks this season, not including the two he had in the postseason. He is one of several players scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year on March 18.
"A 49ers source said the team wants to re-sign Armstead," writes Fowler, "but believes he has played himself into big, big money."
Did Armstead do enough to prove that he was the player the 49ers envisioned when they drafted him No. 17 overall in 2015? His 10 sacks in 2019 were more than the nine he tallied in his four previous seasons, and he was playing on a fifth-year option, providing added motivation.
The 49ers will take some time to get over the devastating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, and then will have decisions to make this offseason. Armstead will be one of the more interesting ones.
San Francisco is projected to have about $12 million in salary-cap space (sixth-least in the NFL), according to ESPN, and have contract extensions for players like tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to consider.
"You're right there to the biggest dream of your football career," Armstead said after the game, "and your dream of winning the Super Bowl. To be right there and not be able to get it done definitely hurts."