SANTA CLARA — When it comes to debating which 49ers merit bringing back to 2019, more questions are centered on those with current contracts than expiring ones. Let’s examine their in-house options to ponder ahead of the March 11, free-agency kickoff:
UNDER CONTRACT (signed through)
Defensive end Arik Armstead (2019): He’s started every game in a career-best season, and coaches rave about his run defense (46 tackles, 6 for loss). His three sacks are, gulp, a career high. 2019 salary: $9.046 million. Verdict: Best-case scenario for all parties is he takes that $9 million in a two-year extension.