- Arik Armstead will play the next three years of his career in the AFC South. But instead of suiting up for the Houston Texans , Armstead will represent the Jacksonville Jaguars as a divisional foe.
He signed a three-year deal worth $51.0 million to join the Jaguars on Friday. His decision came after the Texans' failed trade attempt with the San Francisco 49ers. At the time, a source told TexansDaily.com to "keep an eye on" Armstead once he became a free agent at the start of the league's new calendar year.
Signing with the Texans would have reunited Armstead with coach DeMeco Ryans, who served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022. However, Armstead had another reunion in mind that sold him on Jacksonville.
"Me and Trent [Baalke] have a great relationship," Armstead said per Jaguars media availability on Monday. "He drafted me nine years ago back in San Francisco, and we were able to talk and discuss my situation and where I’m at in my career. I’m very excited to get it going."
Baalke served as the 49ers general manager from 2011 to 2016 and drafted Armstead with the No. 17 pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He said re-joining Baalke in Jacksonville will successfully help him make a transition to the Jaguars after spending the previous eight years in San Francisco.
He and Baalke kept a close relationship over the years. Armstead revealed that the Jaguars' general manager has kept an eye on him from afar, where he recorded 305 tackles and 33.5 career sacks with the 49ers. Armstead stated that joining the Jaguars also put his family in the best situation.
Armstead's top objective was to find a team that provided comfort while valuing his talents. Unfortunately for the Texans, Armstead felt their divisional foe met his qualifications once he became a free agent.
A source told Texans Daily that Houston's unwillingness to take on Armstead's then $17.0 million salary for 2024 played a role in the team's failed trade attempt, which would have included former defensive lineman Malik Collins.
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