‘Keep an Eye’ on Bills Making a Move for Former 49ers $85 Million Star

The Buffalo Bills are active in free agency following releasing a number of experienced players and adjusting several contracts. Nonetheless, Bills general manager Brandon Beane still has some work to do in order to comply with the salary cap.

Per OvertheCap.com, the Bills are roughly $2.2 million over the $255.4 million cap limit. Thus, when a new report connected the Bills to former San Francisco 49ers star Arik Armstead, analysts were surprised.

After the Niners officially released Armstead on Wednesday, March 13, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows shared on X, “Keep an eye on Buffalo as a possible landing spot.”

Cover 1 host Greg Tompsett wrote, “I mean, he’s a F’ing monster, I just didn’t think we could afford him (still really don’t).”

Considering the Bills’ current financial situation, it’s unclear what kind of competitive offer they could present. The former first-round pick from the 2015 NFL draft still had one year remaining on the five-year, $85 million extension he signed in 2020. However, Armstead, San Francisco’s longest-tenured player, is only available because he declined to take a pay cut.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco shared on March 10, “The 49ers approached Arik Armstead about accepting a significant pay cut from his scheduled salary of $17.41 million. He declined, so the 49ers are set to release him and he will become a free agent.”

With a post-June 1 release, the 49ers save $18 million in cap space for 2024 while absorbing $10.31 million in dead money. As for the multiple void years remaining on Armstead’s contract, “The team will absorb $15.4 million over the next three years,” Niners Nation reported. However, they will save $26 million in cap space.

Bills News: Arik Armstead’s Injury History Is Concerning

It would be a significant move for the Bills to acquire the 6-foot-7, 290-pound interior lineman. Armstead’s six tackles and 1 sack against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl is probably an appealing statistic to Beane. In 12 regular season games last season, he registered 27 total tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and 5 sacks.

Cover 1 host Anthony Prohaska wrote, “The idea of Arik Armstead playing in a rotation with Ed Oliver & DaQuan Jones is surprising. And we know how much [Bills head coach Sean] McDermott & Beane believe in building through the D-Line.”

However, the 30-year-old’s injury history may give Beane pause from splurging on him. Over the past two seasons, he’s missed 13 games. In 2022, he missed multiple games due to a foot fracture and plantar fasciitis, per SI. Foot injuries again plagued the Oregon alum this season.

Nevertheless, numerous teams are interested in acquiring Armstead, including the Tennessee Titans, according to The Athletic’s Diana Russini. Barrows also noted the Los Angeles Chargers could be in the mix.

The Bills’ Defense Will Look Very Different Next Season

After letting go of Tre’Davious White, Siran Neal, and Jordan Poyer, the Bills parted ways with Leonard Floyd and Dane Jackson.

It's still uncertain what will happen to All-Pro safety Micah Hyde, who is considering retirement. Yet, the Bills made a move to re-sign defensive end A.J. Epenesa and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.

Spectrum News 1’s Brian Campbell wrote, “Jones’ comeback also adds an experienced presence to a defensive line that is likely to lose many players to free agency, such as Linval Joseph and Tim Settle, and with Jordan Phillips thinking about retiring.”