Bryce Huff’s trade has officially been finalized. The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday that they are trading the linebacker to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 mid-round draft pick. The 49ers confirmed the deal, pending Huff’s physical clearance, which was expected shortly.
In return, the Eagles will receive a conditional fifth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth-rounder depending on Huff’s performance, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Huff, 27, had signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles before last season but restructured his deal to ease the financial terms, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He was scheduled to earn $17 million this year, with Philadelphia covering $9.05 million and San Francisco taking on $7.95 million.
Huff was notably absent from the Eagles’ OTA, sparking trade rumors last week. However, the transaction could not be finalized until June 1 due to NFL dead money salary cap rules.
In his single season with the Eagles, Huff posted 2.5 sacks, 13 tackles, and five tackles for loss over 12 games, though his playtime was limited by injuries, eventually leading to surgery in week 12. He did not participate in Philadelphia’s 40-22 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
This performance marked a decline from his previous season with the New York Jets, where he recorded 10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 29 total tackles. Over four seasons with the Jets, Huff tallied 17.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 65 total tackles. He joined the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis.
Huff’s move to the 49ers reunites him with Robert Saleh, who was his head coach in New York for three seasons and was hired as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator earlier this year.
Fan Take: This trade highlights the ongoing evolution of defensive strategies across the NFL and underscores how performance and health impact player value. For fans, the reunion between Huff and Coach Saleh adds an intriguing storyline that could elevate the 49ers’ defensive potential in upcoming seasons.
