The Jacksonville Jaguars’ biggest addition in March, both physically and financially, was 6’7 defensive lineman Arik Armstead.
Armstead, 30, hit the free agency market when he was released by the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month after nine seasons with the team. In an episode of his Third and Long podcast released Thursday, Armstead revealed the details of his frustrating negotiations with the 49ers that eventually resulted in his release.
“They did notify me that they did want to extend me,” Armstead said. “They wanted me to be a Niner for life and remain on the team, but they didn’t say what that number would be at. The offseason kept progressing and, finally, they told me I was going to have to take a significant pay cut.”
That wasn’t too surprising as Armstead was due to count $28.35 million against the 49ers’ salary cap in 2024. That would’ve been the highest for any NFL defensive lineman following Aaron Donald’s contract restructure and retirement.
But the drastic difference in pay that was proposed by the 49ers insulted Armstead.
“They extended an offer to me of $6 million on a one-year deal with incentives to go up to like $8 [million],” Armstead said. “When they sent that over, I did feel extremely disrespected. I don’t feel that that level of compensation is nowhere near the type of player that I am.
“Not even just the type of player that I am. What I have committed to the game, what I’ve committed to my team, what I’ve committed to the organization and my community. I didn’t feel like it was representative of who I am as a player and a person.”
Armstead, a four-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, said he had moments of self-doubt before coming to a revelation about his worth.
“Just talking to myself, I was like ‘Nah bro, if 32 teams had an opportunity to have me on their team for $6 million, I think every team in the league would do that in a heartbeat.’ Once I made that decision in my head, I was like I can’t accept this,” Armstead said.
The bet on himself clearly paid off as he scooped up $28 million guaranteed from the Jaguars and is due to make $43.5 million over the next three years.
Yet, despite the rocky end to his time with the 49ers, Armstead also said he isn’t holding any grudges.
“First off, I don’t have any animosity toward the organization, Kyle [Shanahan], John [Lynch], the York family” Armstead said. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for them and my time with them. Even with this situation, it’s not on me to decide how they want to build their team and who they want to pay and how they want to build they roster. That’s not my decision. Business is business.”
That business led Armstead to reunite with the general manager who drafted him, Trent Baalke, in Jacksonville.
