The San Francisco 49ers are progressing on a new deal with linebacker Arik Armstead.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, both sides are “making significant headway” on a multi-year deal. The report isn't exactly a surprise. General manager John Lynch has been vocal about locking up Armstead to a new deal. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old has previously stated he wouldn't oppose the franchise tag.
Lynch stressed his commitment to Armstead following the end of the season.
“Arik is an excellent player,” Lynche said on Thursday. “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.”
Armstead led the Niners in sacks with 10 last season while leading them to an appearance in Super Bowl LIV. While Armstead did show off his potential last season, he's still only produced one top-notch season in his career. The 6-foot-7 defensive end produced just nine sacks in his first four seasons. Furthermore, he had never started a full season until the 2018 campaign.
However, considering the Niners' recent success, they may be inclined to give him a long-term deal. When you factor in that Armstead graded as an 89.8 by Pro Football Focus last season — fourth-best among all edge rushers — it's hard not to be tempted into giving him a multi-year deal.
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