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The San Francisco 49ers’ trade for Bryce Huff is moving forward. Both the 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles both announced that the terms were finalized this evening, pending a physical. The reunion of Huff with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is expected to go a long way in helping San Francisco kickstart Huff’s pass rush ability once again this upcoming season after Huff endured a quiet and trying season with the Eagles.
When the trade was first announced at the end of last week and then again acknowledged by both teams this evening, the initial reporting was that a “mid-round pick” would be going back to Philadelphia as a part of the arrangement. The Eagles were set to eat a majority of the salary for this upcoming season, leaving a lot of wiggle room for just how ambitious of a pick the 49ers would be willing to offer up.
We now know, courtesy of CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, that the compensation going back to the Eagles is a conditional 5th-round draft choice that can upgrade to a 4th-round pick. The terms of the conditions are not immediately known, but Jones mentions that they are tied to performance.
It’s a handsome price to pay, one that should come as a vote of confidence for their new pass rusher. Saleh, not Nick Bosa or Mykel Williams or any other defensive line running mate, will be the key to justifying the investment.
Trade compensation update: it’s a 2026 conditional fifth round pick that can turn into a fourth. Condition(s) tied to performance. All pending physical. https://t.co/LIAQeKD0uR
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) June 2, 2025
If Saleh can get the version of Huff that played in New York with the Jets to come back, the terms or conditions to accelerate the pick won’t matter much — Huff will hit them. He was tied for 15th among all pass rushers in 2023 with 67 pressures, ranking among names like Jadeveon Clowney (71), Bradley Chubb (70), Alex Highsmith (69), Josh Sweat (68), and Haason Reddick (67).
The catch? Huff had at least 150 less pass rush snaps than all of those names in 2023. He was a pass rush demon under Saleh’s aggressive scheme. Getting Huff back into that aggressive front is a fair bet to place, even if it does come with risk. The 49ers don't currently have the Quinnen Williams that existed in New York to help make his life as a pass rusher easier, either. But Saleh knows how Huff ticks and if this trade plays out as a win for San Francisco, Saleh will be the one to thank.
It was the lure of big money in Philadelphia pulled Huff away from the friendly confines of Saleh’s scheme after the 2023 season. And, to be totally fair to Huff, he did get a Super Bowl ring for his troubles. But now he’ll be paired back up with a familiar face on the opposite end of the country and looking to reestablish himself as a marquee pass rush specialist.
The San Francisco 49ers seem to be willing to bet that, with Robert Saleh on his side, he’ll be able to make it happen. And if they’re right, it will be a 4th-round pick going back to Philadelphia in the spring.
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