Armstead, who joined 95.7 The Game on Wednesday, is playing on the fifth-year option of his initial rookie contract, which means he could hit free agency next year. Of course, all he can control is the here and now, so that is what the defender remains focused on.
"The game slows down, you get better and better every year," Armstead told Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto, and Matt Kolsky. "You learn more every year. I just think my mindset has kind of shifted this year. It's great to play with great players. It definitely gives you peace of mind that you don't have to make every play out there. That all you have to do is do your role, and my role is to go out there and be dominant, and get after the passer on third down.
"My role is pretty simple, and I just try to execute it to the best of my ability."
What has helped players like Armstead, among others, is the offseason additions to improve the defense's lackluster pass rush. One of those additions has been rookie defensive end Nick Bosa, who has been the NFL's most productive pass rusher, again, per Pro Football Focus. Not the most productive rookie pass rusher — the most productive, period.
"For a rookie to come in with that immediate impact, that's not very common, Armstead said of Bosa. "So he definitely came into the league with a certain skill set that's been working for him. It's been great to play with him, and his knowledge of the game, especially coming from his family — and his father was a first-round pick, his brother is an All-Pro (and) Pro Bowl player, too. I know he's learned a lot from them, as well.
"Just to bring that into the league at a young age, and being able to hone in on that, and learn from that, and continue to get better from that, I think he's going to have a great career."
The big NFC West news of the week was the Jacksonville Jaguars sending star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for several draft picks. The thoughts on the impact of the trade have been mixed. Many believe it helps the Rams in the short-term but may not make enough of an impact to help the team catch up to the division-leading and undefeated 49ers. The cost (both what was given up and the salary cap ramifications of a potential future deal) could also hurt the organization in the long-term.
What was Armstead's response to the Ramsey-to-Rams news? "Cool story."
"For me, personally, it doesn't mean too much," Armstead said. "Cool news to look at. It really doesn't have a big impact on my life, day to day, or what I have to do on the football field. He plays DB, and I play D-line.
"I mean, it's a cool story. He's a big-name player going to the Rams. They're in our division. He's a great player. I'm sure he'll help them a lot. But for me, personally, it really doesn't concern me."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Armstead below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Why 49ers' Nick Bosa is a top-5 defensive centerpiece
NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks recently ranked the top defensive centerpieces he'd build an NFL roster around. Topping the list are two dominant pass rushers—Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett—which comes as no surprise. Both are under 30 and widely considered among... -
Among 49ers' offseason priorities: Fix the run defense
The San Francisco 49ers struggled against the run in 2024, allowing 124.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 18th in the NFL. The unit surrendered 24 rushing touchdowns. Only the Dallas Cowboys allowed more (25). Opponents averaged 4.4 yards per carry against them, tying for 12th... -
49ers hold pre-draft interview with UCF CB BJ Adams
The San Francisco 49ers recently conducted a virtual interview with UCF cornerback BJ Adams, continuing their pre-draft evaluations. The team initially met with Adams at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the 49ers are among... -
Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?
Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's...