Jaguars set to sign former 49ers DL Arik Armstead

The Jacksonville Jaguars are making a splash in free agency as they’re set to sign former San Francisco 49ers defensive line Arik Armstead, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Armstead, 30, was a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft and spent his entire career with the 49ers before the team released him to save $18 million in salary cap space. In nine seasons with the 49ers, Armstead tallied 33.5 sacks, including a 10-sack season in 2019.

Arik Armstead was in discussions with several teams including the Bills and Titans. In fact the 49ers and Texans had a player-for-player deal in place — Armstead for Collins — but it fell apart after the Texans agreed to terms with edge rusher Danielle Hunter, sources tell me and…

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2024

The Jaguars will welcome the help along the defensive line after struggling to stop the run late in the year. During a six-game stretch that cost Jacksonville a spot in the playoffs, the team allowed at least 150 rushing yards three times, including 175 yards from the Tennessee Titans in the regular season finale.

Jacksonville also didn’t generate much pass rush from the interior as the edge rushing duo of Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 of the team’s 40 total sacks on the year.

Arik Armstead aligned as a left interior DL at his highest rate since 2016 last season (92.4%), tying for the 3rd-most pressures in the NFL on such snaps (33).

Roy Robertson-Harris was the lone Jaguars DT to generate more than 15 pressures last season (45).#DUUUVAL https://t.co/irzZTNFt60 pic.twitter.com/fuHaKy7hOZ

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 14, 2024

Armstead should provide a boost in both categories and give a serious jolt to a Jaguars defense that is looking to turn a page under new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.