49ers: Decision to pick Arik Armstead not related to Justin Smith

The 49ers are waiting to hear if defensive end Justin Smith will play in the 2015 season. The veteran is considering retirement. 

General manager Trent Baalke said that Smith's uncertainty played no role in the team's decision to draft defensive end Arik Armstead in the first round of the draft. 

"I said this to many of you the last time we met: We gave Justin liberty to make his own decision on his time frame," Baalke said, per the Mercury News. "So we went into the draft not thinking about what decision Justin’s going to make or not going to make. We just went in to find the best football player, the best system fit we could."