Sources: Oregon DL Arik Armstead leaning toward entering NFL draft
Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead is strongly leaning toward entering the 2015 NFL draft, according to multiple sources familiar with the underclassman's thinking.
Armstead hasn't made any official declarations yet, but his father, Guss Armstead, has already held a number of meetings with agents in an effort to analyze his son's options for representation should he declare.
Included in the information Arik Armstead has gathered about his draft prospects are statements made by some NFL general managers who have stated that Armstead has rare athleticism that makes him a likely first-round pick.
"Can see him go very, very high," one AFC West GM said, according to information presented to the Armsteads. "Has everything you want out of a [defensive lineman]. Height, length, power, pass rush ability. Needs to show more consistency, but raw potential is very intriguing. First round."
Armstead, a 6-foot-8, 290-pound tackle and end, was universally considered one of the top players in the nation coming out of high school as a Rivals.com four-star player in 2012. He saw significant playing time for the Ducks in his freshman and sophomore campaigns before becoming a full-time starter this year. Armstead has started 15 games while playing in 37 since he arrived in Eugene. Heading into Oregon's playoff game against Florida State, Armstead has 19 solo tackles, 14 assists and 2.5 sacks in 11 games. He missed two games – vs. UCLA and California – with an ankle injury.
Prior to the season, Armstead purchased a large disability and loss of value insurance policy with $5 million in coverage but increased the policy to $8 million during the season, multiple sources close to the situation told Yahoo Sports. The increase in the size of the policy was directly related to Armstead's rising draft prospects.
