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The Philadelphia Eagles have stunned the NFL world by agreeing to pay $9.05 million to offload edge rusher Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers in a trade announced on June 2, 2025. In return, the Eagles will receive only a conditional fifth-round pick (potentially upgradable to a fourth-rounder based on Huff’s performance) in the 2026 NFL Draft. This bold and controversial financial move has left fans and analysts wondering: What’s really going on in Philadelphia?
Bryce Huff: From Rising Star to Eagles’ “Burden”
Bryce Huff, 27, was once a highly promising edge rusher during his time with the New York Jets under head coach Robert Saleh. In the 2023 season, Huff made his mark with 10 sacks and 68 quarterback pressures, boasting an NFL-leading 21.8% pressure rate, per NFL Next Gen Stats. This performance earned him a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles in 2024, with $34 million guaranteed.
However, the 2024 season was a disaster for Huff in Philadelphia. In 12 games, he managed just 2.5 sacks—a far cry from expectations. A wrist injury sidelined him for five games, and even upon his return, Huff was a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LIX, a clear sign he was no longer in the Eagles’ plans. Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme appeared to be a poor fit for Huff, who thrived in a 4-3 system with the Jets.
Eagles Pay a Steep Price to “Fix” Their Mistake
According to ESPN, the Eagles restructured Huff’s contract to facilitate this trade. Instead of paying the full $16.75 million guaranteed salary for 2025, the Eagles will absorb $9.05 million, leaving the 49ers to cover the remaining $7.95 million. In exchange, they receive only a conditional fifth-round pick—a price many consider a bargain basement return for such a hefty investment in Huff.
This move signals the Eagles’ attempt to mitigate the damage from a misguided 2024 free-agent signing. General Manager Howie Roseman, known for his reluctance to admit mistakes, appears to have conceded that Huff was not a fit for the team. Keeping Huff on the bench or cutting him after June 1 would have resulted in a staggering $19.8 million in dead money, per Over the Cap. The trade with the 49ers, though costly, is a way to escape this financial quagmire.
49ers: Golden Opportunity or Risky Gamble?
For the San Francisco 49ers, acquiring Bryce Huff is seen as a savvy move, especially since they’ll pay just $7.95 million for the 2025 season. Huff will reunite with Robert Saleh, now the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, who previously helped him reach peak performance in 2023. With San Francisco’s 4-3 defensive scheme, Huff has a chance to rediscover his role as a quarterback-hunting machine.
However, the trade is not without risks. Huff is considered a “one-dimensional” player, excelling at pressuring quarterbacks but struggling against the run. Throughout his career, he has only played over 43% of defensive snaps in a single season once (51% in 2021). Can Saleh transform Huff into a more well-rounded contributor, or will he remain a situational pass-rusher for third-down plays?
Additionally, the 49ers have already invested in their defensive line, selecting edge rusher Mykel Williams with their first-round pick in the 2025 Draft. Adding Huff suggests the team is seeking both depth and experience for their defensive front, especially after parting ways with key players like Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd last season.
What’s Really Going On?
This trade is more than just a story of a player who didn’t fit a system. It reflects the financial and roster-building strategies of both teams:
Eagles: The team is attempting to clean up a mistake from the previous offseason, paying a high price to maintain financial flexibility and focus on other priorities. Spending $9.05 million for a fifth-round pick is steep, but it underscores Roseman’s determination to fix the roster aheadმო�
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roster ahead of the 2025 season.
49ers: The team is seizing an opportunity to add a potentially high-upside player at a low cost, leveraging the connection between Huff and Saleh to potentially revive his 2023 form. It’s a gamble, but with minimal financial risk and high reward potential if Huff succeeds.
Conclusion
The Bryce Huff trade is a textbook example of the complexities of NFL financial and roster management. The Eagles paid a steep price to correct a mistake, while the 49ers gained a chance to resurrect a forgotten talent. Will Huff rediscover his 2023 brilliance in San Francisco, or will this become another misstep in the 49ers’ long list of edge rusher acquisitions? Only time will tell.