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The San Francisco 49ers made a potentially substantial addition to their defensive front when they dealt a conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for defensive end Bryce Huff. It’s a move that comes with a ton of potential reward with very little financial risk.
Huff struggled last season in Philadelphia after signing a three-year, $51.1 million free agent contract with them. He played in only 12 games and posted 2.5 sacks. His performance during the regular season made him a seldom-used rotational option in the postseason.
The hope for San Francisco is that defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will be able to rekindle some of the success he had with Huff as the New York Jets head coach in 2023. That year Huff posted a career-high 10.0 sacks. That upside makes the conditional fifth-round pick worth it, especially when it comes with such little financial commitment.
Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald broke down the financial details of the move for both clubs. He noted that while Huff has two years left on his contract, it’s really only a low-cost, one-year commitment for San Francisco.
Via OTC:
The 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, was Huff’s head coach in New York and was able to find a role for Huff where he could thrive as a wide pass rusher. He exploded in his walk year for 10 sacks which earned him the contract with the Eagles. The 49ers will be responsible for $7.95 million in salary this year, of which, I believe, $7.7 million will count on the cap and $250,000 will be a downward adjustment to the 2026 salary cap. His 2026 salary will be $17 million if that remains unchanged, essentially making this a contract year again for Huff.
Eating a $7.95 million cap hit is easy for San Francisco. They’re carrying more than $53 million in room per OTC.
If Huff plays well, the 49ers will have an opportunity to extend him or trade him next offseason. If he doesn’t play well, San Francisco can release him after this year without any major financial hit. That’s not a bad price to pay if the club believes Huff can help elevate their pass rush.
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