The Jacksonville Jaguars revamped the roster in free agency and aren't probably done making chances. They have 10 picks in the draft and will probably need to move on from a handful of players to make room for their rookie class. This begs the question, who could be on his way out? Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report has a suggestion.
Moton drew up a list of surprise trade candidates and included Armsted, pointing out that the new Jaguars regime hasn't been afraid to move on from long-time contributors. On top of that, the veteran would be an appealing target for teams in need of help at defensive tackle. There's a catch, though.
"Any time a team hires a new general manager and coaching staff, underperforming high-paid veterans from the previous regime could be a cut or trade candidates.
At 31, coming off a down season with 29 tackles, three for loss, 11 pressures and two sacks, Armstead isn't going to garner much interest from suitors. He's also owed $14 million in guarantees this year.
However, if the Jaguars are willing to take on some of his 2025 salary in a deal, they may be able to find a trade partner looking for a versatile defensive lineman who can be productive in a full-time starting role."
Armstead has a base salary of $2 million and is set to count $7.4 million against the cap in 2025. Trading him now would leave a whopping $28 million in dead money.
A first-round pick in 2015, Armstead spent his first eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and joined the Jags on a three-year deal worth $43.5 million in 2024. Expected to solidify the defensive front, the former Oregon Duck was instead underwhelming, racking up a measly two sacks and 11 pressures.
It's fair to say that the Jaguars didn't get enough bang for the buck, but most of Armstead's lack of production most likely arose from the fact that he mostly lined up at defensive end even though he's at his best when he plays inside. It's hard to tell whether former general manager Trent Baalke or the coaching staff was behind the decision to play the Sacramento, California native on the edge, but there are reasons to believe the Jags could keep him around in 2025.
Why the Jaguars will (probably) keep Arik Armstead in 2025
Given how unremarkable Arik Armstead was in 2024, it's easy to see why the Jacksonville Jaguars would consider the thought of trading him. However, it would be hard to pull off. After all, they would take on a massive dead money charge if they traded him. Even if the team's brass moved him after June 1st, when it can split the cap in two years, he would count $17 million against the cap in 2026.
Simply put, Armstead's contract is structured in a way that makes it difficult to move on from him. But even if you put aside the financial implications, the Jags may be better off keeping the veteran defensive tackle around. For starters, he spent the offseason recovering from a meniscus surgery he underwent after 2023. It's possible that he wasn't 100 percent.
Armstead will now have a chance to spend the offseason with his teammates. Add the fact that he'll switch back to defensive tackle, and he'll be in a favorable situation to bounce back in 2025. Granted, the new regime may still want to trade him at some point in the offseason, especially if it supercharges the defensive trenches in the draft. Having said that, there's also value in keeping a proven veteran around.
The truth is that the Arik Armstead signing doesn't look great in retrospect, but the Jacksonville Jaguars don't have much wiggle room, so expect them to try to make the most out of it in 2025.
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