The San Francisco 49ers sent All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in arguably the most surprising trade of the offseason. Many were stunned by the trade, including former teammate Arik Armstead.
Armstead appeared on KNBR 680 and opened up about the trade:
“I didn’t have any knowledge of it, so I signed and then I heard of that, so it was a shock to me,” Armstead said, per NBCSportsBayArea.com. “It was a shock. You know, I was confused and I didn’t really expect that.”
Armstead went on to say he’s “excited and happy” for Buckner, but it’s clear the trade caught him completely by surprise.
The 49ers traded Buckner in part because they couldn’t afford to pay both him and Armstead, who signed a huge long-term contract this offseason. After being traded, Buckner ended up inking a monster deal with the Colts that makes him one of the highest-paid defenders in the game.
While it will certainly be tough for the 49ers to replace Buckner’s impact, they are now set up to make significant improvements on the offensive side of the ball thanks to the first-round pick they landed in exchange for the All-Pro.