The San Francisco 49ers went through significant changes in the offseason. After a very disappointing 2024 campaign, the 49ers made an effort to revamp the roster by moving on from their expensive veterans. While they let several key contributors walk in free agency due to financial concerns, the 49ers also acquired a questionable defender whose contract has the chance of being one of the worst deals in the league.
One of the more surprising moves from general manager John Lynch in the offseason was to trade for Bryce Huff from the Philadelphia Eagles. Giving up a fifth-round pick that could go upgrade to a fourth-rounder for Huff, who was completely marginalized by the Eagles in the final stretch of the season, certainly carries some risk.
49ers' Bryce Huff Will Be Overpaid Until Further Notice
Huff has a cap hit of $7.95 million with a base salary of $7.7 million for the 2025 season. He is in the second year of the three-year, $51 million deal ($34 million guaranteed) he signed with the Eagles in the 2024 offseason. Considering how poorly he played last season and the questions surrounding him, it's safe to assume that Huff will likely not produce enough to justify his salary.
Huff's Pro Football Focus grades regarding defense (69.8), tackling (64.0), and pass rushing (69.9) were noticeably lower than the previous season's totals. It's understandable why Philadelphia had buyer's remorse, to say the least.
It's impossible to know what went down between the Eagles and Huff. There is certainly a chance the 27-year-old could bounce back and return to his Jets days.
At the same time, the Eagles have gotten a ton out of a lot of young defenders over the years, and the fact that Huff wasn't able to crack the rotation there doesn't bode well. Vic Fangio is considered to be one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, and Huff's inability to emerge as an option despite the team's significant investment in him could suggest that he may be a potential one-hit wonder.
Unless he proves otherwise, the 49ers will find it difficult to trust Huff in a big role over the likes of Mykel Williams and Nick Bosa. And if he doesn't, he will be one of the more overpaid players in San Francisco.