49ers: 5 players who could make the Pro Bowl this season

4. Arik Armstead, DT/DE

Like Williams, Arik Armstead entered the 2019 season facing plenty of scrutiny regarding his previous play. The 2015 first-round pick had struggled his way through the first four seasons of his career and it seemed as if the writing was on the wall for his eventual departure from San Francisco.

That was until he finally broke out in his fifth NFL season.

Through the first four years of his NFL career, Armstead had managed just nine sacks underwhelming as a pass rusher while battling through multiple season-ending injuries. But in 2019, he seems to have finally found his calling.

Armstead has shined in the team’s new Wide-9 defensive scheme that allows him to line up opposite opposing offensive tackles while still rushing from the interior.

The spaced-out alignment has given him significantly more one-on-one opportunities which has, in turn, led to a career-high eight sacks through 10 games. Mind you, through his first 46 games he had managed just nine sacks.

Now he has eight through 10.

On top of that, Armstead has remained a very solid run defender while serving as a key cog in perhaps the best defensive line in football. The 26-year-old has the former draft pedigree to receive recognition and it helps that he’s surrounded by some premier talent.

Expect Armstead to make a serious run at the Pro Bowl and a few more sacks should all but reserve him a spot come January.