Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a sack in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019.
Arik Armstead sounded off on a number of San Francisco 49ers matters Wednesday, however his feedback on former teammate DeForest Buckner and new teammate Javon Kinlaw have been essentially the most attention-grabbing.
Armstead talked with 49ers media members via a Zoom name, the primary time he’s finished so since signing a 5-year, $85 million contract this spring.
Signing a brand new contract meant that the 49ers needed to deal Buckner to retain some sort of worth, seeing San Francisco commerce the defensive sort out to the Indianapolis Colts for the 13th general choose within the 2020 NFL Draft.
Feedback on Buckner
With Buckner and Armstead’s distinctive play, it was going to be almost not possible to maintain each defensive lineman on the roster when it got here time for his or her second contracts.
San Francisco elected to increase Armstead and commerce Buckner seemingly because of the truth that Buckner was price extra on the commerce market. Nevertheless, that didn’t make issues any simpler for Armstead, particularly when Buckner’s commerce and his contract extension have been introduced on the identical day.
“It was after all an attention-grabbing day to say the least,” Armstead mentioned. “Plenty of pleasure in signing again with the Niners. It’s positively what I wished to do. DeFo getting traded was a shock to me and I used to be making an attempt to determine how that occurred.
“I noticed that on the media then I referred to as DeFo and we talked about it. Every part occurs for a motive. It’s bizarre not being on the identical group anymore and never enjoying alongside one another. However we’re each tremendous blessed. He positively deserves that contract, is an incredible participant and he’ll do superb issues in Indianapolis.
Buckner didn’t replicate his 12 sacks from 2018, however his 7.5 sacks in 2019 have been nonetheless immensely helpful, particularly as an inside rusher. With Armstead speeding from the sturdy finish and Nick Bosa attacking from the weakside, the trio was a nightmare for NFL quarterbacks in 2019.
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Welcoming Javon Kinlaw
Whereas that trio is now not collectively, the 49ers have changed Buckner with certainly one of faculty soccer’s finest defensive tackles in 2019. Kinlaw comes with a powerful SEC pedigree, and Armstead acknowledged that Wednesday.
“Javon goes to have his personal profession,” Armstead mentioned. “However taking a look at him within the restricted stuff I’ve seen, he’s extraordinarily gifted, athletic, sturdy.
“He’s going so as to add loads to our group and I’m excited for after we all get again collectively to begin that journey, to assist deliver him alongside and in control, be a frontrunner and information him via his profession, particularly in these early levels.”
Armstead’s appreciation for Kinlaw as his personal participant is vital contemplating that Kinlaw is starting his NFL and 49ers profession within the context of Buckner’s spectacular first few seasons within the league.
Kinlaw’s repute as a participant is much less targeted on pass-rushing in comparison with Buckner’s, however the former South Carolina Gamecock was persistently disruptive in all phases of the sport, totaling 65 tackles, 15 sacks and 7 move knockdowns in his final two years in faculty.
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Evan Reier is a sportswriter protecting the San Francisco 49ers for Heavy.com and native sports activities for the Montana Normal in Butte, MT. Comply with and attain out to him on Twitter at @evanreier.