Niner Noise
FanSided

Biggest 49ers winners and losers from the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissoner Roger Goodell greets Aldon Smith, #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers, during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissoner Roger Goodell greets Aldon Smith, #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers, during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles while under pressure from defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles while under pressure from defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Loser: Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead

Just before the NFL Draft, a small rumor surfaced the 49ers were shopping both Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas to create room for either Nick Bosa or another top-tier prospect, now-New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

General manager John Lynch denied any of the reports about players being on the trade block, specifically Thomas.

And while Thomas could easily lose out on snaps with Bosa primed for a key role, arguably the bigger loser out of the two is Armstead.

There are two key reasons here. First, Armstead is playing on his fully guaranteed fifth-year option and will become a free agent in 2020. With Bosa now in the mix, it’s almost impossible to envision a scenario in which the 49ers bring Armstead back, barring injury or some completely unforeseen circumstance.

Second, Armstead doesn’t have the benefit Thomas does: being a hand-picked commodity of the Lynch and Kyle Shanahan regime.

With two more years on his rookie contract, the 49ers have more long-term hopes for Thomas than they do Armstead, one would guess. So, if you had to pick one player Bosa pushes out for the long term, it’s almost assuredly Armstead. Not Thomas.