Would you make these three 2018 trades if you were the 49ers?
By Peter Panacy
Trade No. 2: Move Defensive Lineman Arik Armstead to the Buccaneers
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead might be pushed out of a position in 2018.
Sure, we never got to see what Armstead could truly do as an EDGE/LEO in coordinator Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defense. A hand injury limited him to just six games over the course of the year, although Armstead — the 2015 No. 17 overall pick — managed just 1.5 sacks in that role.
All for a so-so 76.3 pass-rush grade, per Pro Football Focus.
This thread from Fourth and Nine’s Dylan DeSimone sheds some light on the subject:
The 49ers have much more invested right now in defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas. And if the team looks to address its pass-rushing needs via free agency or the NFL Draft, there’s little else for Armstead to do but provide depth and a rotational option.
Those are important, but what if San Francisco could ship the former first rounder off to a pass rush-needy Tampa Bay Buccaneers team?
Netting a second- or third-round pick would be ideal, although the latter option is more likely.
Armstead is still on his rookie deal but has a fifth-year option for 2019, which could be a nice bonus for a team like Tampa Bay.
Would you do it, 49ers fans?
If you could send off #49ers DL Arik Armstead to a pass rush-needy team like the #Buccaneers, would you do it for a second- or third-round pick?
— Niner Noise (@SFNinerNoise) February 18, 2018