Will Bryce Huff be enough for 2024 Eagles?
Defensive end Bryce Huff has a very particular set of skills, but do those skills fit the Philadelphia Eagles? The answer may surprise you.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles are about to sign the free agent edge-rusher to a three-year, $51.1M contract. The deal includes $34M guaranteed, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Philadelphia had a league-high 70 sacks in 2022 but just 43 last season while allowing the third-most points (25.2) per game. Something needed to be done and Philadelphia believes Huff could be just the guy to do it.
Huff had 10 sacks and 33 hurries as a Jet last season but even with a career-high 480 snaps, he saw the field for less than half (42%) of the team’s defensive plays. By comparison, Philadelphia’s Haason Reddick had 11 sacks but played in 74% of the team’s defensive plays.
According to reports, the Eagles have been shopping Reddick and defensive tackle Josh Sweat in trade talks but given Huff’s narrow skill set, the team should consider keeping one, if not both players for 2024.
Huff's pass-rush grade lands just outside the top-10 at his position on Pro Football Focus, but his run defense score puts him 101st among edge-rushers, well behind Reddick (50) and Sweat (84). Given his reputation as a pass-rush specialist, those numbers aren’t surprising. But if the team wants to get the most out of Huff next season, they’ll need to adjust their defensive philosophy.
According to Pro Football Reference, Philadelphia blitzed on 22% of defensive plays in 2023, tied with the Titans for ninth-fewest in the NFL. Vic Fangio, the team’s new defensive coordinator, used a blitz on 21.5% of plays as head coach of the Miami Dolphins last season.
Only the Colts blitzed less than the Jets last year which could bode well for a 25-year-old linebacker just entering his prime. But $51M is a lot of money to give a situational player like Huff, money he can’t earn from the sidelines.
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