In a surprising move, the 49ers are going to release Arik Armstead ahead of free agency. Here is why they are doing so.
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00:00 Well, this came out of left field. The 49ers just released Eric Armstead, and the report says that he decided to become a free agent, and the 49ers released him.
00:12 I've never heard of a player deciding to become a free agent, a player who's under contract.
00:17 Armstead was under contract for another year at his cap number, his salary cap number was more than $28 million. Ridiculous for a player who, even if he played 17 games a year, that's ridiculous for Eric Armstead, but he plays about 8 to 12.
00:34 So he requested, decided to become a free agent. Why? Incredible, when he could have made $28 million on the Niners this year.
00:46 I could guess, I could make an assumption, maybe the Niners said, "Hey Eric, you know, longest tenured player on the team, man of the community, we've really taken care of you, given you a lot of money, why don't you take a pay cut?
01:03 Why don't you help us out? Because your contract is ridiculous. You know it, we know it, the American people know it. Why don't you take a pay cut?" Maybe. And then he said, "No! I am deciding to become a free agent. I would rather you cut me than take a pay cut."
01:22 And the Niners said, "Cool. I don't know. It just seems that if you look at the contract, his cap number was more than $28 million. By cutting him, the team saves not even $2.5 million in cash base. So it's not really a business decision. That's why it seems pertinent and important to note that this was Armstead's decision. He wants to be a free agent."
01:47 At the same time, by cutting him and saving only $2.5 million and eating $25 million in dead cap, that just shows how much the Niners don't want Eric Armstead. Which is interesting because he used to be a really good player. At one point, they wanted him more than they wanted DeForest Buckner, right? Well, that was a mistake. And they're acknowledging it.
02:11 So, he's gone. And now, at defensive tackle, they have J. Von Hargrave and Kahlia Davis. That's it. On the whole team. So, all of a sudden, defensive tackle just became the Niners' number one need. Don't be surprised if they draft a defensive tackle in round one.
02:30 They're also going to need a defensive end. Maybe freeing up this $2.5 million in cap base allows the Niners to sign someone such as, I don't know, Leonard Floyd or Jonathan Greenard. I'm just naming names. But what really is important is that Eric Armstead is no longer on the 49ers because he wanted to be a free agent. Well, enjoy Buffalo.
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