The Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers pulled off what ESPN's Seth Walder is calling a rare win-win trade, with both organizations receiving B+ grades for their handling of the Bryce Huff deal. The Eagles shipped the underperforming edge rusher to San Francisco in exchange for a 2026 mid-round draft pick.
Huff’s 2024 season was a steep letdown after he signed a three-year, $51.1 million contract in the offseason following a breakout campaign with the Jets. His pass rush win rate dropped to a career-low 19 percent, he registered just 2.5 sacks, and he was inactive for Super Bowl LIX despite being fully healthy. The numbers reflected a player who had clearly fallen out of favor with Philadelphia’s coaching staff.
The Eagles, however, are well-stocked on the edge. Recently signed veterans Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche join rising talent Jalyx Hunt and 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith Jr., giving Philadelphia solid depth at the position. “Philadelphia isn't walking away with a huge haul,” Walder wrote, “but if Huff was not a lock to be active on Sundays, then saving a few million and getting a draft pick is a pretty good outcome.”
From San Francisco’s perspective, it’s a calculated gamble. The 49ers needed pass rush help opposite Nick Bosa and are betting that Huff’s disappointing 2024 season was the exception, not the norm. Despite his struggles, Huff’s 19 percent pass rush win rate still exceeded the league average, and his 0.79-second get-off time remains impressive.
The 49ers restructured Huff’s contract and will pay just under $8 million this season, a manageable cap hit for a player with significant upside. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who previously coached Huff during his most productive seasons with the New York Jets, is expected to deploy him in a rotational role. That usage could mask his known liabilities against the run while capitalizing on his quickness off the edge.
So ... everybody is a winner? Nobody is a loser? Sort of.
This trade exemplifies smart roster management from both franchises. The Eagles offloaded an expensive, underperforming player while gaining future draft capital. Meanwhile, the 49ers added a potentially disruptive pass rusher at a reduced rate with limited long-term risk.
With both teams receiving B+ grades from ESPN, the Huff deal stands out as a rare example of mutual value creation in a league where win-win trades are increasingly uncommon.