Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who could be cut during 2019 offseason

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a sack of Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a sack of Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead

The last player likely to be cut before the 2019 season is a bit tougher to analyze. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead is another Trent Baalke selection, which doesn’t bode well. Neither do some of the various injuries Armstead has sustained during his 49ers tenure.

That said, Armstead has put together a quietly solid season in his fourth year as a pro. He’s already set a career high in sacks (3.0), but Armstead’s value for San Francisco’s defense has been against the run.

Despite this, there are reasons for the Niners to move on. First, the 49ers were without Armstead for the majority of 2017 and seemed to fine against the run without him, allowing just 3.8 yards per carry. Plus, parting ways with Armstead this offseason would give second-year defensive end Solomon Thomas a bona fide role on the inside as a strong-side defensive tackle in sub packages and a big-end 5-technique on base downs.

The Niners have far more invested in Thomas at this point than Armstead.

San Francisco picked up Armstead’s fifth-year option for 2019. But, barring injury, it won’t become fully guaranteed until the start of the league’s new year in March. Cutting him early next year would save over $9 million in cap space too — a lot of money to pay for a primarily run-stopping defensive lineman.

Next. 3 49ers backups who should start over the rest of 2018. dark

So don’t be shocked if that’s the direction the Niners choose to take.