© Sean Logan/The Repub | 2020 Dec 3
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Arik Armstead. The former first round pick was so outstanding last season, notching a career-high 10 sacks as a key component of the 49ers’ Super Bowl defense, that he made DeForest Buckner seem expendable, and not worth the big payday that was looming.
Six months removed from the decision to trade Buckner, it’s looking like a mistake. Buckner is having another All-Pro season in Indianapolis, showing that he’s a star no matter the circumstances. Armstead, meanwhile, has fallen back to Earth, notching just 1.5 sacks this season, and gone nine of 12 games without a single QB hit.
It’s not all Armstead’s fault. Injuries to Nick Bosa and Dee Ford have forced him to pick up the edge rushing slack, something he’s not equipped for. To be fair, Armstead has been stellar in the run game, and is still ranked as the 19th best edge defender in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, the 49ers gave Armstead a five-year, $85 million deal this offseason, and his production hasn’t come close to living up to that according to 49ers beat writer Nick Wagoner of ESPN.
“In Armstead’s case, you’re paying him a lot of money,” Wagoner told Murph & Mac on Tuesday morning. “You do not want to pay a lot of money to a guy who can only produce when everything around him is perfect, which one can argue they do with their quarterback as well.
“I think when you look at Armstead’s case, his best season came when he was healthy, and surrounded by the likes of Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner. He was able to kick inside regularly and pass rush from there. I think the inability to do that consistently because of the injures has hurt him.
“You would still expect more production than you’re getting from him given what you’re paying him. You could make the argument he’s been maybe the most disappointing player on the team this year.”
Listen to the full interview below.