Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the 49ers approached Armstead about taking a pay cut from his scheduled $17.41 million base salary. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Armstead and the 49ers came close to a deal but couldn't reach an agreement.
Armstead (6-7, 290), the 49ers' longest-tenured player, was drafted out of Oregon with the No. 17 overall pick in 2015. Last season, he recorded 27 tackles, including four for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and five sacks in 12 starts with the 49ers, according to Pro Football Reference.
Armstead recorded 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits in his three playoff appearances, adding a sack against Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 58.
At 30 years old, Armstead has amassed 302 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 88 quarterback hits, 33.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in 116 game appearances (97 starts) over his nine NFL seasons. He has missed 13 games over the last two seasons.
According to OverTheCap.com, designating Armstead a post-June 1 release will create about $18 million in salary cap savings and $10.3 million in dead money. He was slated to count about $28.4 million against the cap.
Last month, Armstead revealed that he played through a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury sustained during the team's December 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Initially, he feared his season might be over, but the defensive lineman managed to return for the postseason, playing through the injury.
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