© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers have declined to exercise the franchise tag on Arik Armstead by the 11:59:59 p.m. ET deadline on Monday. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent, though it was reported Sunday night by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports that the 49ers and Armstead were working on a multi-year extension.
The 49ers are making signifcant headway on a multi-year extension with Arik Armstead that would preclude them from having to place the franchise tag on him.
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 16, 2020
Because the 49ers didn’t place the franchise tag on Armstead, any team can negotiate a deal with him. The 49ers’ eschewing the franchise tag was a hint at the fact they likely were close to a deal with him, though they now have no guarantees that he’ll stay. At this point, whatever discussions are ongoing are only bound by handshake.
If he was to be signed elsewhere, the 49ers would likely be due a compensatory pick in 2021 (potentially in the third round, given Armstead’s value and the lack of likelihood the 49ers shop on the open market).
The team is in a financial bind in the short-term, as it looks to extend both DeForest Buckner and George Kittle, while keeping other pieces around them, and somehow adding to the roster on a limited budget. Armstead’s breakout season of 10.0 sacks (more than all his previous four season combined) was a catalyst in the 49ers’ playoff run, and there was an initial belief it may have priced him out of San Francisco’s range.
Earlier in the season, general manager John Lynch said on KNBR, “Arik Armstead has been tremendous for us this year,” Lynch said. “Arik is going to make a lot of money, whether it’s with us or somebody else. He’s playing really well and bringing a lot to the table. We’re glad we have him and we’re going to work hard to try to keep him, but you can only sign so many, so we’ll see where that goes.”
That seemed to insinuate the 49ers might have to let him go, but in his end-of-year availability, Lynch said keeping Armstead was one of the team’s priorities.
“We want to find a way to keep him and make him a part of the 49ers for a long time,” Lynch said.
According to Pro Football Talk, a new deal is expected “very, very soon.”
New deal is expected very very soon for 49ers and Arik Armstead per source.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 16, 2020
NBC Sports’ Jennifer Lee Chan reported Armstead’s goal was to remain in Santa Clara, and was open to less money because of that.
Source close to the #49ers reports that Arik Armstead was willing to discuss less money for a multi year deal to stay with the team.
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) March 16, 2020