Armstead set to be released by 49ers from…

Source: NBC Sports Bay Area first reported that Armstead would be released by the 49ers and become a free agent.

It appears that the 49ers will be losing their longest-tenured player.

According to a source who spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday night, defensive tackle Arik Armstead of the 49ers will be released after he turned down a sizable pay cut from his projected $17.41 million salary for the 2024 NFL season.

The first person to report Armstead’s decision to become a free agent was Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

With the free-agent signing period opening on Wednesday, the 49ers will likely have about $2.5 million in salary cap space as a result of the anticipated move.

Armstead, 30, was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2015 draft out of the University of Oregon. With 97 starts, he made appearances in 116 regular-season games. In addition, he started each of the 12 postseason games in which he participated and finished the playoffs with eight career sacks.

2020 was Armstead’s first year of eligibility for free agency. After recording a career-high 10 sacks, the 49ers signed him to a five-year, $85 million contract.

Over the previous two seasons, he missed 13 games because of foot and knee problems.

Armstead said two days before the 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat that he will need surgery this summer to repair a damaged meniscus in his right knee.