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Arik Armstead played 18 percent of his defensive-line snaps along the interior last season, according to Pro Football Focus, but that was enough to get him the votes needed to land on
ESPN's top-10 ranking of the best inside defensive linemen for 2020.
Writer Jeremy Fowler conducted an extensive poll involving 50 league executives, coaches, scouts, and players.
"Voters gave their best 10 to 15 players at a position," explains Fowler, "then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, and research. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls."
One former San Francisco 49ers player, DeForest Buckner, landed at the No. 4 spot. Three spots later is where you will find defensive lineman Arik Armstead. While Buckner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, Armstead received a five-year deal worth up to $85 million to remain with the 49ers.
Not everyone felt the decision to choose Armstead over Buckner was the wrong one.
"Buckner is better down in, down out, but Armstead -- now that he's healthy and in a good situation -- put it all together (in 2019)," said one NFL personnel man. "He might have more in front of him than Buckner."
What is really interesting is that Armstead's highest ranking by voters had at least one individual putting him at No. 2 on the list, and one spot after Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, who unanimously earned the top spot. No one voted Armstead lower than No. 11.
Armstead's 89.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus this past season was the highest of his career and a significant jump over his 2018 numbers. He racked up a team-leading 10 sacks, adding two more in postseason play, 54 tackles, 11 for a loss, 18 quarterback hits, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles last season, according to Pro Football Reference.
Although, Pro Football Focus' numbers can differ from other stat lines, therefore inflating Armstead's sack total by one and crediting him with 11 during the regular season.
"After an 11-sack season, Armstead earned an 89.8 Pro Football Focus grade," writes Fowler, "one of the highest at his position. And with
Nick Bosa and Dee Ford rushing off the edge in San Francisco, Armstead brings balance to the 49ers' interior attack."
The news of Arik Armstead's departure from the San Francisco 49ers after nine seasons with the team shocked linebacker Fred Warner. Armstead, a former first-round pick, was an impactful force on the football field. However, his availability over the last two seasons forced the 49ers to reevaluate his contract, and when his salary could not be significantly reduced, the two sides parted ways.
"Huge surprise," Warner said of learning that Armstead was being released. "Ever since I've been here, we called him the blueprint for how to be a Niner. That was the longest-tenured Niner that's been here and a guy that's done it right through and through."
Warner has been in the NFL long enough to understand how the league works. Over the years, he's watched several
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
