To the Philadelphia Eagles, moving defensive end Bryce Huff for a late-round pick is all about “cutting our losses.”
To the San Francisco 49ers? It’s a “steal.”
We long ago confirmed that Huff was on the trade block, and now we have a deal.
The logic behind the move makes sense from several perspectives.
For San Francisco, the fit is natural. The 49ers recently brought back Robert Saleh—Huff’s former head coach with the New York Jets—as defensive coordinator. Huff thrived under Saleh’s system during his breakout 2023 season, notching double-digit sacks and establishing himself as a reliable situational pass rusher. Saleh has long been a vocal supporter of Huff’s potential and effectiveness in his scheme.
The 49ers have a clear need for additional edge depth behind Nick Bosa.
Huff could be deployed in pure pass-rush packages, maximizing his explosiveness without the burden of run-defense duties—an area where his game is still developing.
From the Eagles' perspective, trading Huff will provide welcome financial relief.
Huff signed a three-year, $51.1 million deal with Philadelphia last offseason, but the Eagles have remained aggressive in roster building and may want to redirect funds toward bolstering other positional groups or extending emerging stars.
Philadelphia never publicly expressed any dissatisfaction with Huff’s role, but his OTA absence told a story.
The Eagles were not dealing from a position of strength here, so most any price was going to be right.
Huff, with his history under Saleh and the 49ers’ ongoing search for pass-rush support, can be a fit.
But in Philly? He was a misfit.