For a team coming off a Super Bowl they came within one play of winning, the San Francisco 49ers have quite a few needs to address across free agency and the draft.

Offensive line is a clear area of focus following the right side’s struggles in the Super Bowl, while cornerback and edge rusher are also likely to be areas the 49ers will attempt to reinforce over the next two months.

But an important part of team building is assessing needs ahead of time, and the 49ers have a pretty significant one on the horizon on the middle of their defensive line.

But beyond that, the 49ers face the prospect of potentially needing to replace a starter at defensive tackle next offseason.

Arik Armstead, the longest-tenured member of the 49ers, is scheduled to hit free agency in 2025, when his contract voids if they have not agreed to an extension by the fifth day of the waiver period, which begins the Monday after next season’s Super Bowl.

In terms of his on-field play, the 49ers would appear to have plenty of reason to want to keep Armstead around, even though he will be entering his age-32 season in 2025. Armstead finished the regular season seventh in Pro Football Focus pass rush grade and, among pass interior defensive linemen with at least 200 pass rush snaps, the 2015 first-round pick was 10th with a pass rush win rate of 14.6%.

The problem, though was not Armstead’s play on the field, but the amount of time he spent on it. Armstead missed the final five games of the regular season before returning for the Niners’ run to the Super Bowl. Following the 49ers’ defeat, it was revealed he played with a torn meniscus.

San Francisco may extend Armstead this offseason to create salary cap room so the Niners can make moves in free agency. If they do not do so, however, then it may be difficult for the Niners to justify re-signing Armstead to another contract next year given his recent injury history. Armstead has missed 13 games over the last two seasons.

The emphasis, understandably, has been on the more immediate needs that may help the Niners get over the hump in the Super Bowl next season after going so close last month. Yet for the 49ers’ hopes of staying among the elite long term, finding at least one player who can assume a starting role at defensive tackle in 2025 may be just as important.