49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday answered one of the biggest offseason questions about the team’s roster when he spoke to media from the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He confirmed that the team is all in on keeping defensive lineman Arik Armstead on his fifth-year option.
“We’re not into losing good players,” Shanahan said according to the 49ers’ website. “He played very well for us. I think he can take it to another level, and I hope to see him do that this year. If he can do that, it’s going to be very good for the Niners and very good for him. He’s got the ability to do it. He’s already done some very good things for us.”
Armstead was excellent last season for the 49ers. He posted a career-high 48 tackles and 3.0 sacks. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.8 overall grade, and ranked him the 26th-best edge defender in the league. He wasn’t a game-changing pass rusher, but he was a stout run stopper on the 49ers’ defensive line. That aspect of a defense is still vital in an increasingly pass-happy league.
The team is hoping new defensive line coach Kris Kocurek will help lift Armstead to new heights in Year 5. The 25-year-old’s fifth-year option will pay him $9 million for the 2019 season. That’s a steep price for a defensive lineman, but San Francisco has enough cap space to afford the luxury of paying Armstead for what’s effectively a one-year tryout for his future.
Another strong, healthy year should earn the former first-round pick a long-term deal. Armstead tweeted that he’s hoping to stay in Santa Clara beyond this season:
It’s understandable that the 49ers weren’t eager to pull the trigger on an early long-term extension for Armstead. He played only 14 games between his second and third seasons, and suffered a broken hand late last season that he was able to play through. Staying healthy will be as important for him as taking a step up as both a pass rusher and run defender.
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