It’s easy to view the Philadelphia Eagles’ \$51 million contract for Bryce Huff as a mistake, especially considering he only recorded 2.5 sacks and ended up being a healthy scratch during the team’s Super Bowl win.
In the larger context of Howie Roseman’s time as general manager, Huff’s deal stands out as one of the few free agency misfires. However, the Eagles softened the impact by securing a conditional fifth-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers in a trade involving Huff, making the situation a bit less costly.
With Huff gone and Josh Sweat signing with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, the pressure now falls on third-year edge rusher Nolan Smith to continue his upward trajectory in 2025, following an impressive sophomore season.
Eagles’ Vic Fangio Weighs in On Bryce Huff’s Disappointing Tenure
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio often receives praise for Philadelphia’s aggressive pass rush and significantly improved secondary, which were key factors in last season’s Super Bowl run.
As the Eagles kick off preparations for the 2025 season with OTAs at the NovaCare Complex, Fangio explained that Bryce Huff’s hand injury cut short what could have been a strong second-half comeback for the 27-year-old.
“He was improving before he injured his hand,” Fangio told reporters on June 3. “He tried to play through it for a couple of weeks, but it didn’t go well because he was hesitant to use his hand. After surgery, he had to wear a large cast that made his hand and arm basically unusable.”
“That had a big impact on him. And right after the draft, the first thing you notice is his hand size and arm length — which he basically lost.”
Huff missed five games following surgery, and though he returned for the playoffs, he didn’t record a tackle in Philadelphia’s two postseason wins and was ultimately sidelined as a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LIX.
Why Vic Fangio May Wind Up Right About Bryce Huff
Whether Fangio is right that Huff’s injury was the main factor holding him back, or if the former New York Jet simply didn’t fit well in the Eagles’ defensive scheme, the bottom line is that things just didn’t click in Philadelphia—for Huff or the team.
That said, Fangio isn’t ready to count Huff out yet.
“Things changed,” Fangio told reporters. “But I think he’ll do well in San Francisco.”
With the 49ers, Huff is expected to help fill the production gap left by linebacker and pass rusher Dre Greenlaw, who left in the offseason. He’ll also reunite with Robert Saleh, his former Jets head coach who is now San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.
In 2023, Huff notched 10 sacks before signing with the Eagles, adding 67 quarterback pressures that year and 38 the previous season on just 173 pass-rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
San Francisco is banking on familiarity and continuity to get the most out of Huff, while the Eagles turn to young edge rushers like Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt to pressure quarterbacks in 2025, hoping Fangio’s second year brings big improvements and another shot at the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.