Titans, Three Other NFL Teams Interested in Free Agent Defensive Lineman Arik Armstead

The NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday released Arik Armstead, their longest-tenured player, after he reportedly refused to take a pay cut. Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon knows Armstead well from his six years with the Niners.

NASHVILLE — After losing Denico Autry in free agency, the Tennessee Titans need a replacement to partner with Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line. According to several reports, Titans general manager Ran Carthon could bring in an old friend from the San Francisco 49ers. 

According to Dianna Russini of the Athletic, the Titans are among several teams linked with interest in signing defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who reportedly refused to take a pay cut and was released Wednesday by the Niners.

Teams are expected to have interest in Arik Armstead, sources tell me one of them includes the Titans. GM Ran Carthon knows Armstead from his days in San Francisco. https://t.co/Q2l9dE1RuM

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 13, 2024

The three teams besides the Titans are the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions reportedly are interested in Armstead. The Texans, the defending AFC South champions, already have signed six free agents on the defensive side of the ball.

 Carthon spent six years in the 49ers' front office from 2017 to 2022 before becoming the Titans' general manager. Armstead, 31, was entering the last year of a 5-year deal for $85 million.

Last season, the 31-year-old  had five sacks and 27 tackles in 12 games. He played through a torn meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it after the Super Bowl. However, he is expected to fully recover before training camp.

San Francisco selected Armstead as the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, making him the team's longest-tenured player. 

Armstead recorded 33.5 sacks, 88 quarterback hits, and 43 tackles for loss in his career for the 49ers. 

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