A media-proposed trade sending Huff to San Francisco for a conditional 2026 pick could benefit both sides, reuniting the pass rusher with Robert Saleh and clearing cap space for Philadelphia Eagles.
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to be enveloped by trade speculation this offseason, with much of the attention centered on tight end Dallas Goedert.
But another name is positioned in the rumor mill: That of defensive end Bryce Huff.
We long ago confirmed that Huff is on the trade block, and now NFL Trade Rumors' Logan Ulrich has floated a hypothetical deal involving the San Francisco 49ers. The proposed trade: San Francisco sends a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Huff.
The logic behind the proposal makes sense from several perspectives.
For San Francisco, the fit is natural. The 49ers recently brought back Robert Saleh—Huff’s former head coach with the New York Jets—as defensive coordinator. Huff thrived under Saleh’s system during his breakout 2023 season, notching double-digit sacks and establishing himself as a reliable situational pass rusher. Saleh has long been a vocal supporter of Huff’s potential and effectiveness in his scheme.
The 49ers have a clear need for additional edge depth behind Nick Bosa. Huff could slot into a rotation with Yetur Gross-Matos, who’s expected to handle early-down responsibilities. Huff, meanwhile, could be deployed in pure pass-rush packages, maximizing his explosiveness without the burden of run-defense duties—an area where his game is still developing.
From the Eagles' perspective, trading Huff would provide welcome financial relief. Huff signed a three-year, $51.1 million deal with Philadelphia last offseason, but the Eagles have remained aggressive in roster building and may want to redirect funds toward bolstering other positional groups or extending emerging stars.
While Philadelphia has yet to publicly express any dissatisfaction with Huff’s role, his schematic fit under coordinator Vic Fangio is still evolving. If the coaching staff believes younger players or recent acquisitions are better fits long term, this trade could represent a calculated asset play.
Ulrich’s proposal remains speculative for now, but it’s a scenario that could gain traction depending on training camp performance and injury developments around the league. The Eagles aren’t strangers to dealing from positions of strength, and a pass-rusher-needy contender like San Francisco might be willing to strike if the price is right.
For now, Huff remains an Eagle—but with his history under Saleh and the 49ers’ ongoing search for pass-rush support, this is a situation worth watching as the offseason progresses.
