Mar. 14, 2024 18:15 PM EST

Former 49Ers Dt Arik Armstead Agrees To A 3-Year, $51 Million Deal With The Jaguars, Ap Source Says

By MARK LONG
AP Pro Football Writer
FILE - San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead speaks to the media during NFL football Super Bowl 58 opening night Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Las Vegas. The 49ers are planning to cut their longest tenured player by releasing defensive tackle Arik Armstead in a salary cap move. A person informed of the team's decision said Armstead will be released and hit the open market after the start of the new league year, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) Matt York, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead speaks to the media during NFL football Super Bowl 58 opening night Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Las Vegas. The 49ers are planning to cut their longest tenured player by releasing defensive tackle Arik Armstead in a salary cap move. A person informed of the team's decision said Armstead will be released and hit the open market after the start of the new league year, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrates a hit on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The 49ers are planning to cut their longest tenured player by releasing defensive tackle Arik Armstead in a salary cap move. A person informed of the team's decision said Armstead will be released and hit the open market after the start of the new league year, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Arik Armstead's unemployment lasted roughly a day.

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with the former San Francisco defensive tackle on a three-year, $51 million contract Thursday, a person with knowledge of the decision said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side had announced the move.

The 49ers released Armstead to create salary cap space when the new league year began Wednesday. He will now switch coasts and reunite with Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke, who drafted Armstead with the 17th overall pick in 2015.

If he can stay healthy, Armstead should provide a huge addition for a team that ranked 25th in the league last season with 40 sacks. Armstead will be asked to line up between standout pass rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker and provide the kind of middle push the team has been missing for years.

The Jaguars wouldn't have been in a position to land Armstead had they brought back receiver Calvin Ridley. But when Ridley agreed to sign with rival Tennessee on a four-year, $92 million deal Wednesday, the Jags had the flexibility to get the 6-foot-7, 290-pound defender.

Armstead had five sacks in 12 games in the regular season in 2023 and added one more in the playoffs. He has 33 1/2 sacks in 116 games in the regular season, and his eight career sacks in the postseason are the second most in Niners history.

The 30-year-old Armstead was hampered by injuries the past two seasons, playing only 21 regular-season games in that span because of injuries to his knee and foot. He played through a torn meniscus in his right knee in the postseason and had surgery after the Super Bowl.

Armstead was due a $17.4 million base salary this season and would have counted $28.4 million against the cap, leading the Niners to release him.

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