Houston Texans 'Tried to Trade' for Arik Armstead Before Jaguars Signing

Before he signed with the Jaguars as a free agent, Arik Armstead revealed that the Houston Texans tried to trade for him before his release from the 49ers.

HOUSTON -- Arik Armstead will play the next three years of his career as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars instead of the Houston Texans. Armstead signed a three-year deal worth $51.0 million to join the Jaguars in free agency. His decision came after Houston's 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.

In a recent appearance on the Third and Long podcast, Armstead revealed that the Texans and 49ers had a deal in place before his release from San Francisco.

August 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91)

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

"The Texans tried to trade for me, they didn't even want me to become a free agent,"
Armstead said. "There were a few other teams in the mix. But once I was able to have conversations and see where I best fit, seeing how teams wanted to use me. I consider myself a big-time player in big games.

"The Jags have had a lot of good teams over these past few years. And teams are looking for players who are going to put them over the hump."

A trade with the Texans would have reunited Armstead with coach DeMeco Ryans, who served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022. 

Armstead played his entire nine-year career with the 49ers, who made him a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has recorded 302 tackles and 33.5 sacks across 116 career games.

A source told Texans Daily that the Texans' unwillingness to take on Armstead's then $17.0 million salary for 2024 played a significant role in the team's failed trade attempt, which would have included former defensive lineman Malik Collins.