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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players poised for breakouts in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/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. 4: Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead

Sticking on defense, there’s plenty of reasons to assume why the 49ers’ 2015 first-round NFL Draft pick, Arik Armstead, also has a breakout year in 2019.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Armstead did have a career year in 2018, setting career highs in tackles (48) and sacks (3.0). Amid the grand scale, however, those numbers aren’t exactly impressive on paper, despite the fact he was San Francisco’s second best defender, according to Pro Football Focus, with an overall grade of 74.8.

The reason why is Armstead was doing a lot of things well, including being a primary run stopper, yet not picking up the eye-popping stats such as sacks. He did register 26 pressures, though, which also ranked second. Those just didn’t translate into quarterback takedowns.

The addition of edge rusher Dee Ford, paired with the interior rushing prowess of DeForest Buckner, should make Armstead’s job a lot easier in 2019, assuming he gets the lion’s share of interior snaps over fellow lineman Solomon Thomas. If the Niners add yet another outside rusher in the NFL Draft, it only increases Armstead’s potency.

There’s another key reason, too. Playing on his fifth-year option, Armstead is poised to hit the free-agent market in 2020 and will want to cash in after a record-breaking year. That alone should provide enough motivation for Armstead to have the best year yet.

Provided he can stay fully healthy again, of course.