49ers Sign LB Ray-Ray Armstrong to a Two-Year Extension

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have inked linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to a two-year contract extension.

The San Francisco 49ers are going to have plenty of needs to address this offseason. But the inside linebacker position is going to be a little less pressing.

Monday afternoon, the Niners announced they had signed 25-year-old linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to a two-year extension that would keep him with the team through 2018. Armstrong was set to be a free agent after this year.

Armstrong, who is on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, won out the starting ILB job alongside NaVorro Bowman at the start of the season. The 6-foot-3, 227-pound linebacker played in only two games before the injury cost him the season.

And his numbers suggested he was in line for some good things.

According to Pro Football Focus, Armstrong posted an 80.4 grade, which is second only to Bowman (86.0) and fellow linebacker Gerald Hodges (81.0).

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With both Bowman and Armstrong out for the year, the Niners have been forced to rely on guys like Hodges, Michael Wilhoite and Nick Bellore up the middle. And even Bellore will likely miss the rest of 2016, due to injury.

So re-signing Armstrong makes a lot of sense for San Francisco. The team needs both help and depth at this position.

And the move should take a little pressure off the team’s pending offseason moves in 2017.

Hopefully Armstrong lives up to the impact. At best, he remains a starter while the team looks for a more permanent option. In all likelihood, Armstrong is a solid depth player, who can occupy the inside and outside linebacker positions as well as at safety.