The Eagles on Monday announced the trade that had been reported days earlier: Agreeing to trade edge rusher Bryce Huff, pending a physical, to San Francisco for a 2026 mid-round draft pick, adding to an NFL Draft capital haul that gives Philadelphia at least 10 selections next spring, with potentially more coming via compensatory picks to be announced next year.
What made the team so secure in sending Huff to the 49ers is the picture they're starting to envision for the defense on the edge. There is still a long way to go to develop the youth here, but the Eagles are excited about what they have in tow already, starting with third-year player Nolan Smith, a breakout star performer in last season's Super Bowl-winning drive, to second-year man Jalyx Hunt, who came on strong in his rookie year, to free-agent acquisitions Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche, to sixth-round draft pick Antwaun Powell-Ryland to veterans like Patrick Johnson and K.J. Henry and Ochaun Mathis.
Competition, baby!
Iron sharpens iron, as the coaches and players always say. There will only be 53 players on the active roster come the regular season, but the practice squad – as we've seen time and time again – is so important, and every single one of these players is here for a reason. They're here to compete and to earn the coaching staff's confidence and, clearly, that is happening enough that the Eagles feel good about sending Huff to San Francisco and seeing how this group develops.
The rapid ascension of Smith, the second of two first-round draft picks in 2023, materialized before our very eyes as the defense rose up late in 2024 and then throughout the postseason. Smith added to his pass-rushing repertoire, whipping offensive tackles with his speed on the outside and also showing them some speed-to-power finishing skills that were so impressive. Smith is the leader in the room here, a player with utmost confidence in himself and the understanding – built on his two seasons with Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat – of helping those around him thrive in the defense.
Hunt gained more playing time in his rookie campaign after Graham suffered a torn triceps in November and the rookie, whose unlikely path took him from Cornell to Houston Christian to the NFL, quickly rose to the occasion. The moment, it turned out, was not too big for Hunt, a third-round draft pick last spring.
Now, in his second season, Hunt looks for the big leap that players often make from Year 1 to Year 2.
"Everything for me is working on my technique and continuing to get better and better with what I'm doing. My hands, my footwork, how I'm setting up blockers, all of that is what makes the difference at this level," Hunt said. "I know I can get better at everything, so that's what I'm working on."