I love having him in the defense. Unfortunately for him and the team, he's missed too many games to injury to warrant the kind of money he's making. The Niners have an aging core of quality players that's going to have to be rotated annually if they are to remain perennial play off contenders.
They've also asked Kyle Juszczyk to take a pay cut, which I'm pretty sure he will, because there's not many places he can play in his position and at age 33, I doubt any team would pay him anywhere close to what he made last year.

Armstead's best days are behind them. He'd be coming off knee surgery and a plantar fasciitis injury that bugged him all year. Damn shame, but that's football.

49ers have 11 draft picks, four of which are compensatory, in which to fill out the roster, plus some cap room for free agent. Some of their best values have come in the 3rd and 4th rounds.

Round 1, No. 31
Round 2, No. 63
Round 3, No. 94
Round 4, No. 123 (via Dallas Cowboys)
Round 4, No. 130
Round 4, No. 133 (compensatory)
Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 211 (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 215 (compensatory)
Round 7, No. 232 (via Denver Broncos)
Round 7, No. 251

He's 26, a 2020 third-round pick, and he's healthy. He rounds out a starting four (unless someone better emerges) of Bosa, Hargrave, and Floyd.

S.F. also agreed to terms with Panthers' edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos, who they hope to develop into a more consistent player. Drake Jackson and Robert Beal are other lineman under contract.

A respectable three-year, $43.5 million contract with a team that will totally embrace him

Sorry to see him go.