Bryce Huff cut 49ers
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DE Bryce Huff of the San Francisco 49ers has been named a top cut candidate heading into the 2026 offseason.
The Atlanta Falcons are currently in the middle of an intense waiting game when it comes to rookie James Pearce Jr. After Pearce was arrested following a domestic incident with ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson, he is now facing five potential felony charges.
That being said, the future looks rather bleak for the former first-rounder, which obviously puts the Falcons in a terrible position. Nothing is for certain yet — legal proceedings still have to play out, followed by a possible suspension from the NFL — but more than likely Atlanta is preparing as if Pearce won’t be available in 2026, if not longer.
That would mean finding a replacement. And replacing 10.5 sacks from last season won’t be easy.
They could look to the 2026 NFL Draft. The problem? Their first-round pick belongs to the Los Angeles Rams after last year’s trade back into Round 1 to select Pearce.
Atlanta doesn’t pick until No. 48 overall in the second round. By then, most of the top-tier pass rushers could already be off the board.
That leaves free agency, where Fox Sports’ Greg Auman believes Atlanta could find help from a potential NFC cut candidate.
Falcons Could Reunite Bryce Huff With Jeff Ulbrich
In Auman’s extensive list of possible cap casualties, edge rusher Bryce Huff of the 49ers stands out as a name that could make sense for Atlanta.
Huff is entering the final year of the three-year, $51.1 million deal he originally signed in 2024 before being traded. He is set to make a base salary of $1.215 million in 2026.
“Huff, 27, got a big contract after a 10-sack season with the Jets in 2023 — $17 million a year — but he had only 2.5 sacks with the Eagles in 2024, got traded for a fifth-round pick and managed four sacks (and two forced fumbles) for San Francisco last season,” Auman wrote. “He has a $15 million option bonus coming, but hasn’t played close to that value. Soft place to land? How about a reunion with Jeff Ulbrich in Atlanta, where the Falcons might need pass-rush help due to James Pearce Jr.’s recent arrest.”
Huff spent three seasons with Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich from 2021-2023 while both were with the Jets. Since that 10-sack breakout year in New York, Huff has totaled just 6.5 sacks combined, with 24 overall in his career.
“He was technically the most productive pass rusher on the 49ers last season but recorded a pressure rate of just 13.9%. San Francisco also had the least productive pass rush in the entire NFL (20 sacks, 58 QB hits),” NFL.com’s Matt Okada wrote.
Falcons Have Looked to 49ers Pass Rushers Before
If Atlanta were to pursue Huff, it wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory. The Falcons signed veteran Leonard Floyd last offseason after he spent a year with San Francisco.
Floyd’s stint in Atlanta was serviceable as the team attempted to rebuild a pass rush that had been missing for years. He recorded 3.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and five tackles for loss.
He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Whether Huff becomes available remains to be seen. But if Atlanta is forced to pivot quickly from the Pearce situation, familiarity with Ulbrich — and a need for immediate edge production — could make this a move worth watching.