The 49ers are set to release longtime defensive lineman Arik Armstead, according to multiple reports. Armstead, 30, had been the longest-tenured member of the team, having been drafted in 2015 by Trent Baalke.
According to multiple reports from Adam Schefter, Matt Maiocco and Jordan Schultz, the 49ers tried to work out a contract restructure with Armstead which would have, per Maiocco, been a "significant" pay cut from his scheduled $17.41 million base salary.
Armstead declined that arrangement, preferring to see what his market would be as a free agent. Armstead had signed a five-year, $85 million deal in March of 2020, receiving $45.85 million in guarantees.
While no one has confirmed whether Armstead's release will be pre or post June 1, it would not make much sense for the 49ers to release him before June 1. If they did so, he would have a $25.86 million dead cap hit, saving the 49ers just $2.49 million this season.
If he is released with a post-June 1 designation, he would have a $10.3 million dead cap hit this season, but save the 49ers $18.04 million in cap room (obviously after most of free agency has been concluded) this year.
In his nine season with the 49ers, Armstead underwent a major shift, after starting out with some injury issues and lack of production as an edge rusher. He hit his stride with a shift to defensive tackle under Kyle Shanahan and thrived with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, racking up a career-best 10-sack season in 2019.
Armstead was the 49ers' best run defender on the interior last season. Suffice it to say, San Francisco has a major hole at defensive tackle that needs replacing. Suddenly, that arguably spot becomes as high of a free agent/draft priority as defensive end, offensive line and cornerback.
Many questions will be answered in the next few days, as the legal tampering period in the NFL opens Monday, before free agency begins Wednesday.
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