The San Francisco 49ers made a calculated move when they traded a fifth-round pick to the Eagles for Bryce Huff. At the time, it looked like a smart addition-a high-motor edge rusher brought in to line up opposite Nick Bosa and give the Niners’ pass rush a much-needed jolt. But as the season unfolded, things didn’t exactly go according to plan.
Injuries hit hard. Bosa and first-round rookie Mykel Williams both went down with season-ending injuries, forcing Huff into a much larger role than originally planned.
The idea was for him to be the complementary piece-the Robin to Bosa’s Batman-but instead, Huff was asked to carry the mantle himself. And while he brought effort and production, the results were a mixed bag.
Let’s be clear: Huff delivered pressure. In fact, he led the 49ers in pressures and quick pressures by a wide margin-more than double what any other defender on the roster produced.
On third downs, he again doubled the next closest teammate in total pressures. That’s not nothing.
That’s a guy consistently getting into the backfield and disrupting plays.
But there’s a difference between pressure and production. Huff didn’t record a single sack on third down, and that’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re counting on your top pass rusher to finish drives. Add in some shaky performances against the run, and his overall value starts to dip-especially on a team that still leans heavily on its run defense identity.
Now comes the offseason, and with it, some tough decisions. Huff is under contract for one more year, but he doesn’t have any guaranteed money left on the deal.
The 49ers could release him and save $5.39 million without taking on any dead money-no need for a post-June 1 designation. That’s a clean exit if they choose to go that route.
And they might. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is stepping into a situation where many of the current defensive pieces, including Huff, weren’t brought in under his watch.
That matters. Scheme fit, coaching preferences, and long-term vision all play into these decisions.
Then there’s the depth chart. Assuming Bosa and Williams return healthy, they’re your starters.
Behind them, you’ve got Sam Okuayinonu and Keion White, both of whom are still developing. Yetur Gross-Matos is hitting free agency, and Robert Beal Jr. is a restricted free agent.
There’s room to maneuver, but it’s not exactly a deep unit right now.
If the 49ers think they can get better production-either through free agency, a trade, or the draft-then Huff becomes expendable. And with his cap hit off the books, that money could potentially be redirected elsewhere.
Maybe even toward someone like Joey Bosa, who just wrapped up a 15-game season with five sacks and 52 pressures and is now a free agent. That’s a tempting connection, considering the family ties and the need for a proven edge rusher.
There are other names out there too. The free agent market will offer some options in Huff’s price range, and if the front office and Morris find someone who fits their system better, that $5 million could be reallocated quickly.
And let’s not forget the draft. The 49ers going through an entire draft without adding a pass rusher?
That doesn’t feel like their style. If they believe they can land a younger, cheaper version of Huff in April, then that could be the direction they take.
So here’s the question facing San Francisco: Is Bryce Huff worth keeping for one more year at his current number? Or is it time to move on and reinvest those resources in someone who better fits the vision for 2026 and beyond?
The answer could come down to how much faith the Niners have in their ability to land a replacement-whether it’s a veteran free agent, a trade target, or a rookie on draft weekend. Either way, the edge rusher spot opposite Bosa remains one of the most pivotal positions on this roster. And it’s clear the team isn’t done trying to get it right.