Arik Armstead appreciation post. One of my favorite players who wasn't received well on draft day and started his career off with injuries. Fought through them to become a very good player and made Buckner a cap casualty to the fans chagrin. Went on to become a great locker room leader and a very good DT. Unfortunately, when a big man develops chronic foot or ankle injuries it's never a good sign. Good luck to you Arik and thank you for your service.
Best of luck, on your next endeavor. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWay back when I was pushing for the 9ers to draft Armstead. Grant Cohn hated the pick as GC is won't to do no matter how well AA played he always had a veiled criticism for him. As good of a player as AA was he was a far better man. I'm sure his leadership will be missed.
ReplyDeleteVery much an underappreciated player, in part due to injuries and in part due to playing a thankless role (3-4 DE) or out of position (4-3 DE) earlier in his career. He's quietly been one of the best DTs in the NFL the past few years, and imo has been better than Buckner was against the run while still being very disruptive against the pass (though not as good a finisher as Buckner). If it wasn't for having Buckner on the roster his move to DT would likely have happened sooner, too.
ReplyDeleteNot only was he better than Buck on run stopping, he could play competently out of position as DE which Buck wouldn't or couldn't. His versatility is one reason they kept him over Buck (the other being the money, of course).
DeleteGlad that he got the money he sought. IIRC, he had taken a hometown discount in his earlier re-signing. Excellent Niner. I think he has a couple of good years left in the tank. Wish he could have left as a 10-year Niner, and with a ring.
Evidently Eric Kendrick has changed his mind about playing with the 9ers. He has signed instead with the hated Cowboys.
ReplyDeleteWell, that sucks. LB market is pretty dry.
DeleteGivens however has been re-signed, providing more depth at DT.
It sounded like Kendrick was a done deal. At least by many BayArea reporters. On the positive side the 49ers could invest money on another FA.
DeleteAES, ^
DeleteI bet it was the taxes. Lol!
DeleteHe gets to start at Dallas.
DeleteI have a feeling the next move the 9ers make will be a trade.
ReplyDeleteIn or out, OC?
DeleteIf I were the king of the forest, I would sign Hunter Renfrow and trade Deebo for Ravens TE Isaiah Likely and a future 2nd and 3rd round pick.
DeleteYeah, it's an interesting question as to what to do with Deebo. As much as I like him as a player, I can't help but wonder how many games you can rely on him to be available per year. And while he is excellent in the open field and with ball in hand, he can be taken away by good DBs downfield.
DeleteBy my calculations, 49ers would save around $10M against the cap this year by trading Deebo.
Actually, more like a $7M cap saving if they trade him before June 1. But around $21-$22M if they trade him after June 1 (albeit with a cap hit of a little over $15M pushed over to 2025).
DeleteFWIW though, I doubt the 49ers trade him this year.
DeleteThe 49ers would garner a nice draft pick by trading Deebo. But then the team would lose a productive and integral player in Shanahan's offense. Gray and Bell don't look ready and I can't think of a FA who could replace Deebo. Deebo stays, imo.
DeleteScooter / OC
ReplyDeleteIMO, the 9ers need to get the Aiyuk situation resolved b-4 they address what to do with Deboo.
If Aiyuk demands $25 Mil P/S (or more), the 9ers should look to trade him. Then the question becomes what draft picks can they get by trading him?
Scooter,
ReplyDeleteWhat's your guess on Aiyuk's return draft pick range if he's traded?
The best they could hope for is mid first imo, given there are three WRs in the draft most consider elite prospects. Teams with high first round picks will be more inclined to use them on one of those guys most likely.
DeleteI suspect a trade would look a little similar to the AJ Brown trade, but a little less. Probably a mid to late 1st and a 3rd.
I see it like that as well. But, I will mimic what I said about Deebo, in that who will replace Aiyuk's play and production? Aiyuk has been an ascending player over the last couple of season and he is likely just reaching his prime. This has to be a tough situation for the 49ers.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably a little lower than most 49er fans on how important Aiyuk is to the 49ers/ how hard it would be to replace him.
DeleteNot because I don't think he's really good - he is. I just think he is underutilised by the 49ers and his role with the team can be replaced. Add Hollywood Brown and a guy like Ricky Pearsall and I think this offense remains excellent.
I don't watch Brown but my question would be does he block?
DeleteHe's never going to be a great blocker at his size, but he played for the Ravens who have a similar mindset to the 49ers. Though admittedly they also traded him away...
DeleteWell, don't need to worry about Brown anymore anyway.
DeleteAccording to Wikipedia, Aldon Smith said that he is through with football after being released from jail in October 2023. He's 34 years old. I thought maybe he had been playing in one of the spring leagues.
ReplyDeleteGive hm a call
Am I the only one getting a little worried that the Floyd signing hasn't been made official yet?
ReplyDeleteI think they gotta clear cap space if I'm not mistaken.
DeleteI think I'm gonna get me a Marathe jersey.
DeleteKrueger is reporting that the 49ers have signed Floyd for 2yr $20M. Let's go get that OLman now!
ReplyDeleteAES,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure they are going to sign any more major FAs maybe a LB. I think they will start McKivitz at OT again and draft an OG and DT in the first two rounds.
Is Jon Feliciano still available? But yes, I believe that the 49ers will do whatever it takes to find a starting OL through FA or more likely the draft.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I could find Feliciano is still unsigned
ReplyDelete49ers will have one less Ram to worry about. Aaron Donald announced his retirement.
ReplyDeleteAssume people know by now that
ReplyDelete-They signed Feliciano to a 1 year deal.
-They signed De'Vondre Campbell, Green Bay LB, to a 1 year.
-They signed a ST gunner from Detroit, Chase Lucas.
George,
ReplyDeleteI really like the Feliciano signing. He did a very good job last year. I still believe that the 49ers will draft a plug and play OL in April, but Lynch and Shanahan wouldn't surprise me if they make a trade to bring in a starter.
Good moves all around. We are going to the Draft with no major holes, which was the goal I think.
DeleteDraft list is now ==> OL, DL, OL, DL, OL.
Maybe UDFA KR/PR and a Kicker to compete with Moody.
I just back from traveling, but believe we're light at WR still -unless I missed something
DeleteIf Campbell ends up replacing Greenlaw it will be a huge step down. He has been terrible the last two years, injuries and age have caught up with him. Kendricks backing out of his deal with the 49ers may really come back to haunt them. I think they have done a good job of rebuilding the D line but as of now they have taken enormous steps back at Lb and S while doing nothing at NB. I see them taking a a big step back on D next year unless they can pull of some miracles in the draft. imho
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that they signed him to compete with Winters and Graham, and that one of those two will win the job.]
DeleteI would hive the 49ers a grade C+ on FA signings so far. Floyd is looking like the only day one starter. The others are back-ups at best. The 49ers will need to hit big on the draft, and perhaps make a big signing before the trade deadline like they made for McCaffrey two years ago. How do you see it, Coach?
ReplyDeleteAs much as they need upgrades at G and OT, they can certainly go into 24 with McKivitz and Feliciano and expect the O to be as good as it was last year. Where they are weaker is on the defensive side of the ball. DT, LB, S and NB are 4 positions where they need starters. Expecting to get 4 starters from one draft is not realistic. A trade for one of those positions is possible but that still leaves 3 starting spots unfilled. I believe that the only way this team reaches the SB or even the NFCCG is that the 23 draft class makes huge strides. Graham, Winters and Luter need to make enormous Soph. jumps. I think it is more likely that they take a step back, still a playoff team but not a top 4 team in the NFC.
ReplyDelete49ers continue to build out the roster with relatively low cost signings on guys that can start or contribute. Solid but unspectacular FA, but definitely improving the overall depth of the roster.
ReplyDeleteAnd gives them a lot of flexibility in the draft.
DeleteNew and improved glue at the margins of the roster?
DeleteI think its fair to say the coaching staff wasn't enamoured with segments of the supporting cast around their star players last season.
DeleteAnother signing: Isaac Yiadom, CB, Saints
ReplyDeleteFrom NN:
"Statistically, Yiadom had impressive numbers last season. He was third in the NFL in “tight window rate,” per Next Gen Stats. Yiadom allowed a 38.5 percent completion percentage on 39 targets for only 5.1 yards per target. He gave up 15 completions compared to 16 pass breakups. A season ago, he was predominantly an outside cornerback for the New Orleans Saints. This would suggest the team wants Deommodore Lenoir to play exclusively inside and ensures there isn’t a situation where Ambry Thomas steps onto the field. Thomas, Darrell Luter Jr., and Yiadom are the cornerbacks competing for a spot along with Samuel Womack. This is a signing that doesn’t force the team to invest in a cornerback early in the NFL Draft, either. Yiadom played 50 percent of the snaps last season for New Orleans. He played 55 percent of his snaps in man coverage and shadowed receivers half the time as well. Production-wise, he was among the top 20 cornerbacks in receptions and yards allowed last season. He was fifth in man coverage success rate. This could turn out to be a sneaky good signing for the 49ers, as Yiadom also played 267 snaps on special teams last year for the Saints."
Some highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s_uPsqmjB_Y
Yiadom broke out last season after not playing much on defense in 2021 and 2022. 80.4 PFF coverage grade and just 50% catch rate allowed in 2023.
DeleteThe choices the team has made on guys to restructure is interesting and I think gives some insight on what their future plans are currently.
ReplyDeleteWarner was an obvious one, and Kittle to a lesser degree, but choosing to restructure Hargrave over Deebo is somewhat unexpected imo.
The Hargrave restructure puts his cap hit next year just shy of $30M. Unless he has an unbelievable year, I think it unlikely he plays for the 49ers under such a cap number. Restructuring again next year to lower his cap could be a possibility, but would leave a lot of dead cap to future years. I wouldn't be surprised if we have another Armstead scenario next year, or at best the year after, where the team needs to use a post June 1 designation to split his dead cap hit across two years.
And choosing to not restructure Deebo is equally interesting. Restructuring his deal could have freed up a lot of cap space, but at the expense of a high dead cap in future years which would have limited the benefits of trading him (in terms of cap savings). Not restructuring retains a lot of flexibility for a future trade.
I suspect this will be Deebo's last season with the 49ers, with a trade before next year's draft. And I suspect Hargrave is gone after this season too, with a post June 1 release.
Which means I think Aiyuk is going nowhere, and the 49ers will add a WR and DT fairly early (but probably day 2 with an OL day 1).
According to Larry Krueger's YouTube the 9ers currently have the most cap room in the entire NFL at 35 mill. That doesn't count the additional cap savings they get June 1 for Armstead. The biggest rumor I've seen is the 9ers 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks for Patrick Surtain. Worth it?
ReplyDeleteThat can't be right. My understanding is they have ~$30M in cap space WITH the Armstead saving included. And that doesn't include some of their new additions yet, such as Floyd.
DeleteI think Krueger is misinformed there.
The report was from Krueger and Chase Senior
DeleteMaybe I misunderstood the part about being 35 mill before the Armstead money came off. It sounds more realistic that its 35 mill after the Armstead money comes off. Either way its a lot of money under the cap.
DeleteLooks as though they're just under 14 mill in cap space and 4.5 mill in effective cap space as of right now.
DeleteAnd they can't use the post June 1 Armstead cap space until after June 1. That will be used to sign their draft picks.
DeleteOC, I have seen that youtube video. It isn't your misunderstanding- you heard Chase Senior correctly. I just believe either he is mistaken or he just messed up what he meant to say.
DeleteEither way, I would poo-poo that deal.
ReplyDeleteAES,
ReplyDeleteHow bout their 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Surtain then Aiyuk to the Jags for pick #17 and a 4th?
I wouldn't do that deal. I don't think Surtain is a priority let alone worth all that draft capital.
DeleteNot crazy about both deals, Coach.
DeleteAiyuk is a proven productive player. A #17 and a pick in the 4th doesn't move the needle for me. Also, if the 49ers can get more DE production opposite Bosa, it could help mitigate any CB sub-play opposite Ward. Hopefully Brown and Luter have a good TC this summer and can contribute in 2024.
I would consider the Aiyuk trade, OC, but that's way too much to give up for Surtain imo.
DeleteIf the tape backs up Surtain's reputation, and they could afford him, which I believe they could, I would entertain doing both of those deals, personally- I think Aiyuk's # is probably $28+/-/yr..... and I also would suspect that Shanny feels he could put a "good" WR in his system and make it work- but begs the question then, why hasn't it, for the most part?
DeleteAs for CB, I'm guessing their strategy is:
ReplyDelete-No major free agent acquisition. Too costly.
-Yiadom replaces Thomas and competes with Luter for boundary corner.
-Lenoir is nickle back.
-Ward is extended
Any comments about this?
George, I could see the team still potentially add a nickel CB that could start in FA. I think they'd prefer to keep Lenoir on the outside if they can. And I think they will draft a CB at some point.
DeleteWith Ward, not sure they extend him. They'll need to extend Lenoir soon too. I suspect they let one of them go, and wouldn't be shocked if it is Ward that goes.
Qwan’tez Stiggers-At his Pro Day yesterday, 29 NFL teams, including 3 NFL DB coaches, present. He posted a 36.5 Vert, 10'8 broad, and mid to high 4.4s (our number is 4.47) at 203 lbs. So far, 10 NFL private visits. CFL ROTY season with the Toronto Argonauts and dominant Shrine Bowl week.
ReplyDeleteRazor,
ReplyDeleteI'm a little confused, did he play in the Shrine game this year? Or were you refering to a past Shrine game performance?
He's the first pro to be invited to the Shrine Bowl in its 99 year existance.
DeleteHe didn't go to college.
DeleteWow. Any predictions of where he might go in the draft?
DeleteJustin Fields to the Steelers. Tough year for 2021 1st rd QB draft picks.
DeleteRussell Wilson or Justin Fields Which one starts? I would go with Fields.
DeleteDay 3 sometime.
DeleteR. Wilson.
ReplyDeleteDavid Lombardi video update on the linebacker, safety and CB rooms:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHNtLI-pV04
Snaps played on special teams last season:
ReplyDeleteEzekiel Turner - 342
Isaac Yiadom - 265
Chase Lucas - 229
I hope that the 49ers have OL Zak Zinter in their sights. After suffering a knee injury in post season there could be a chance that he could drop to the 3rd. He's worth the 49ers giving him a 1st yr red shirt with the possibility of playing by November if he's healthy.
ReplyDeleteAre the 49ers done with free agency? Is it time to move on to the draft? Possible trades? Whats next?
ReplyDeleteI think there will still be some FA additions to the secondary.
DeleteSafety is a need.
DeleteYep. They won't go into the season with Odom the top backup at safety. And I find it hard to believe they draft a safety high two years in a row, especially given the hope should still be that Hufanga makes a full recovery.
DeleteGipson on a vet minimum w incentives, possibly?- prefer younger and faster though..... Any rumors on what Aiyuk's camp is asking?
DeleteThe #49ers were among teams that attended CFL CB Qwan’tez Stiggers Pro Day, per
ReplyDelete@TheJCAbbott