The Philadelphia Eagles executed a pivotal roster move ahead of the 2025 NFL season, finalizing a trade sending edge rusher Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. The deal, set to officially close after June 1, allows Philadelphia to shed over $15 million in Salary Cap obligations while reuniting Huff with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, now San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.

Key Details of the Trade

Huff, 27, signed a three-year, $51.1 million contract with the Eagles in March 2024 but struggled to adapt to Philadelphia’s defensive scheme under coordinator Vic Fangio. In 12 games last season, he recorded just 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and eight pressures, often relegated to a rotational role. The Eagles had previously declined his $15.58 million option bonus for 2025, converting part of his base salary into a signing bonus to split financial responsibility with the 49ers. Philadelphia will absorb $9.05 million of Huff’s 2025 salary, while San Francisco assumes $7.95 million, effectively reducing the Eagles’ cap hit by $15.2 million.

Strategic Implications for Both Teams

Philadelphia Eagles

For the Eagles, the trade addresses pressing salary cap needs. With 33 players set to hit Free Agency in 2025, including key defensive linemen like Milton Williams and Josh Sweat, general manager Howie Roseman prioritized clearing space to retain core talent. The cap relief will help Philadelphia pursue extensions for rising stars like Jalen Carter while bolstering depth at edge rusher through rookies (Jalyx Hunt) and recent signings (Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche).

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers aim to revitalize Huff’s career by leveraging his familiarity with Saleh’s aggressive defensive system. Huff enjoyed his breakout 2023 season under Saleh with the Jets, posting 10 sacks and a league-leading 21.3% pressure rate. In San Francisco, he’ll complement Pro Bowler Nick Bosa and rookie first-round pick Mykel Williams, potentially allowing Williams to shift inside on passing downs.

The Huff Experiment in Philadelphia

Huff’s tenure in Philadelphia was marked by inconsistency. Despite high expectations as a replacement for Haason Reddick, he struggled with injuries (missing five games due to a wrist injury) and scheme fit. His $34 million guaranteed contract became a financial albatross, but Roseman’s creative restructuring minimized losses. By trading Huff post-June 1, the Eagles avoid a crippling $21.8 million dead cap hit in 2026, spreading the financial impact over two seasons.

What’s Next?

The 49ers hope Huff’s return to Saleh’s system will unlock his 2023 form, providing a cost-effective boost to their pass rush. For the Eagles, the focus shifts to integrating younger talent and shoring up a defense that ranked 18th in sacks last season. With the NFL’s 2025 salary cap set at $279.2 million, Philadelphia now has flexibility to address critical needs while San Francisco bets on a rebound from a former Jets standout.