The 49ers officially acquired former Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff this week, in exchange for a conditional 2026 5th-round pick that can escalate to a 2026 4th-round pick, based on unknown triggers, and I’m here to show why the trade a win for the 49ers.
Now, to help facilitate the deal, Huff restructured his deal with the Eagles, where they paid $9.05 million of Huff’s 2025 compensation, meaning the 49ers will only pay Huff a fully guaranteed $7.7 million base salary, as for the $250,000 workout bonus, it was paid by the Eagles as they lumped the bonus into the restructure.
The 49ers are hoping that Huff will return to his 2023 season, where he was with the New York Jets, playing for then head coach, current 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, where Huff had 10 sacks, as for 2024, Huff struggled big time, as he played in a 3-4 defensive scheme under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, vs playing in a 4-3 defensive scheme using the wide 9 under Saleh, which is what the 49ers run.
Huff should excel under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who has helped the likes of Arden Key, Charles Omenihu, & Samson Ebukam refine their game after struggling early in their careers, while he’s helped Nick Bosa become on of the best edge rushers in the NFL, so hopefully Kocurek can help Huff refine his game.
Now, the 49ers also inherited Huff’s 2026 salary, which is non-guaranteed, including a $1.215 million base salary, a $14.635 million option bonus due by the start of the 2026 season, a $1 million roster bonus due on the 3rd day of the new league year in March, and a $250,000 workout bonus.
Now, the 49ers have two options with Huff’s 2026 salary cap number, they can have Huff’s option bonus prorate, $2.927 million from 2026-2030, giving him a $5.392 million 2026 salary cap number, but that would leave an $11.708 million dead money hit in 2027.
Now, the second option for the 49ers is to decline the option bonus, adding the $14.635 million to his base salary, effectively making it a $15.85 million non-guaranteed base salary, plus the $1 million roster bonus, and a $250,000 workout bonus, which would give Huff a $17.1 million cap number, with no dead money in 2027.
Of course, there’s the possibility that Huff is released in 2026, due to lack of production and/or feeling Huff’s not worth $17.1 million in cash, and cap room, even if Huff has a solid season, the 49ers can still move on from him, as a $17.1 million 2026 cap number is a lot for a 3rd edge rusher, seeing as 2025 1st-round pick Mykel Williams would be locked into being that sure fire edge rusher spot opposite Bosa.
Now, if Huff plays well in 2025, returning to his 2023 self, it’s very possible that the 49ers negotiate a new deal for Huff in 2026, which could end up being a wise move, as you’d have a deadly edge rushing core of Bosa, Williams, & Huff for the foreseeable future.
This gives the 49ers a chance to ease 1st-round pick Mykel Williams into the role he’s expected to play for the 49ers, so no matter what way, or which side you’re on, this trade was a huge win for the 49ers, as they’d be getting a high end edge rusher for a conditional 2026 5th-round pick, with the several options in 2026.
Here’s to hoping that the Huff trade does indeed payoff in the end for both the 49ers & Huff, and with that said, as always, thank you for reading, you can follow me on X/Twitter @49erscap & on Blue Sky App @49erscap.bsky.social.
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