How 49ers should address Armstead’s free agency
SANTA CLARA — What’s going to happen with Elk Grove native Arik Armstead?
That’s one of the most pressing questions hanging over the San Francisco 49ers at the moment as they wait for the new collective bargaining agreement to get ratified (or not), giving players some clarity on the future and allowing them to start inking new contracts.
Armstead, of course, is San Francisco’s top candidate for the franchise tag. The 26-yearold unrestricted free agent is coming off the best season of his career when he led the team with 10 sacks along the NFL’s most imposing defensive. He had nine sacks the previous four seasons combined — and he hasn’t missed a game since 2017.
The versatile defensive lineman would likely push for a defensive end designation if tagged, which could pay him a fully guaranteed $19.3 million on the exclusive tag or $16.3 million on the transition tag, allowing other teams to make offers the 49ers could match.
If there’s no new CBA in place before the new league year, San Francisco could use the franchise tag and transition tag on a different player — which could impact decisions around free agents like receiver Emmanuel Sanders or safety Jimmie Ward.
The franchise tag window is
open through March 12. The other big complication: having some $18 million in cap space, though the 49ers could make cuts to make more money available.
There was a report from ESPN Monday that said the 49ers want Armstead back and “are working on getting a deal done, per source.”
That aligns with what team officials have said since the end of the season, noting the franchise tag was an option they could use with Armstead. Though the uncertainty surrounding the CBA has slowed down the process league-wide.
“Arik is an excellent player,” general manager John Lynch said last month. “He had an excellent year. I think everything is on the table. We want to find a way to keep him and make him a part of the 49ers for a long time.”
ESPN’s report indicates the 49ers are looking to get a multiyear agreement done with Armstead because the franchise tag wouldn’t include much negotiation. Armstead said when the season was over he would play on the tag in 2020 rather than holding out for something with more long-term security.
But the situation appears fluid and a lot of other variables are on the table. Let’s take a look at three of the most likely outcomes for the Armstead and the 49ers as he wades into free agency.
Sign Armstead to a longterm contract
Getting Armstead inked for multiple seasons could benefit the 49ers in a few ways. First, they would bring back their top four pass rushers next season -Armstead, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford -- and not have to find a replacement either in free agency or with a valuable draft pick. The 49ers currently don’t have selections in rounds 2 through 4 in the draft that begins April 23.
Second, a multiyear agreement could come with more flexibility than the franchise or transition tags.
The 49ers could spread Armstead’s money out in the form of a bonus to shrink his cap figure, allowing them to give other long-term contracts out to team captains Buckner and tight end George Kittle (or save money for Sanders and/or Ward). There’s less flexibility on the tags, other than extending the window to agree on a long-term contract in July before training camp begins.