NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Arik Armstead

By Tom Franich

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers pressures Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers into throwing an interception during the game at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Steelers 24-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers pressures Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers into throwing an interception during the game at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Steelers 24-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Arik Armstead, NFL Free Agency (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Arik Armstead, NFL Free Agency (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

If former first-round pick Arik Armstead hits the market in 2020 NFL free agency, which five teams would be great fits for the defensive lineman?

The San Francisco 49ers came up just one win shy of walking away with the Lombardi Trophy. As their hunt for another Super Bowl title continues, however, they must make big, smart decisions in 2020 NFL free agency and the draft. The first major decision before head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have is whether or not to re-sign defensive end Arik Armstead.

Entering this past season, it probably would’ve been an easy decision to let him walk. He had only nine sacks over four seasons and, with the addition of Nick Bosa, they were likely ready to wish him well. Except Armstead exploded in 2019, leading the 49ers with 10 sacks and posting 13.5 tackles for loss. Now the team must decide if that was a fluke or production to be relied upon.

So will the 49ers make Armstead a long-term offer, lay the franchise tag on him or let him go to NFL free agency? With only around $13 million in cap space, it may turn out to be quite the challenge to bring Armstead back for the 2020 season and beyond.  If San Francisco has to let him go, here are some teams that should be interested in making Armstead an offer that would catch his attention.

5. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a 7-9 season in which they allowed 24.9 points per game and finished with only 28 total sacks as a team, tied for second-worst in the NFL. If they want to make it more of a competition in the NFC South, they will need to bring more pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.

The Falcons suffered a tough six-game losing streak early in the season, giving up at least 24 points per game in each of them, including 53 to the Texans. Their defense needs to be more of a difference-maker than it was in the 2019 season. However, Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn accounted for 12 of the team’s sacks last year and are now set to enter free agency.

If the Falcons indeed let Beasley and Clayborn walk, Armstead would fill in well, bringing a new face to their defense and allowing the offense to thrive with some help for the defense. Of course, making the money work could be complicated for Atlanta given their own salary cap issues but, if they can make a big deal fit, Armstead would fit well.

Home/NFL