Arik Armstead had been an integral part of the San Francisco 49ers recent success. He has played every single one of his NFL snaps in San Francisco. The team drafted him with the 17th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and he has played nine seasons for the team.
However, his time in San Francisco ended this offseason, as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $51 million deal.
While it seemed like a normal player moving on the situation, Armstead told a different story on his podcast on Thursday.
Arik Armstead Gives the True Story on His Podcast “The Third and Long”
On Thursday, Armstead gave his side of the negotiations with the 49ers and what eventually led to him signing in Jacksonville.
He first mentioned that he doesn’t hold any ill-will toward anyone in the 49ers organization and understands the NFL is a business.
San Francisco has arguably as many superstar-caliber players as any other team in the NFL, and those guys want to be paid, too. With quarterback Brock Purdy being on such a team-friendly deal, the 49ers are deciding what guys they want for the next few seasons.
DL Arik Armstead felt “disrespected” by the 49ers from their $6M offer to him this offseason.
The #Jaguars later signed him on a 3-year $51M deal.
(Via Third and Long)pic.twitter.com/li5KDYIpWR
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 28, 2024
Armstead understood that but was still in shock when the team came to him with their offer.
“I understand in football business you have to make tough decisions,” Armstead said on his podcast. “They extended an offer to me of $6 million for one year, with incentives that could take it up to eight. When they sent it over, I did feel extremely disrespected. I don’t feel that level of compensation is anywhere near the type of player that I am.”
It wasn’t just the fact that he felt that, as a player, he deserved a better contract, but also the type of person he was and how he committed himself to the franchise.
“I didn’t feel like it was representative to who I am as a player and as a person,” Armstead said. “I put a lot into what I do. I am not just a guy who goes to practice, goes home, and does all of the bare minimum team stuff to get by.
“I am a guy who watches the most film, spends the most time on my body and preparation. I know for a fact I do a lot more than majority of players.”
New Era for Armstead
Once he knew he was going to be playing football somewhere else, there was some uncertainty about what was next for him. Armstead wasn’t sure what the rest of the league was going to think about him, as he was coming off what he felt was the best game of his career in the Super Bowl loss.
He said if any of the other 31 teams could get him for the deal the 49ers offered him, he was confident every single team would sign him. One team that definitely fit that bill was the Jacksonville Jaguars, who gave him that big contract.
KEEP READING: 49ers Ownership Preparing for Massive Brock Purdy Contract Extension
Armstead finished his San Francisco career with 302 tackles and 33.5 sacks, and he figures to be a key part of the Jaguars as they try and get back to the playoffs after last season’s collapse.
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