Niners Nation
He’s only played two games for the 49ers, but already edge rusher Bryce Huff has made a substantial impact in San Francisco’s 2-0 start.
Huff, acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in June in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick, closed out the 49ers’ 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, forcing a fumble from Spencer Rattler on San Francisco’s final defensive series with a fourth-down sack.
That play served as a perfect illustration of why the 49ers made the move for Huff, with his sack the fastest of the season so far, NextGen Stats clocking it at 2.44 seconds, in a display of just how devastating his lightning fast get-off can be.
Huff was influential throughout against New Orleans, his five pressures in the game only bettered by Nick Bosa (six). His explosiveness was a constant factor, with Huff helping consistently collapse the pocket around Rattler with his ability to translate speed to power.
San Francisco’s trade for Huff came after a season in Philadelphia in which he was miscast as a stand-up outside linebacker in Vic Fangio’s defense, having previously thrived under Robert Saleh as a rotational pass rusher on a four-man front with the New York Jets.
The Eagles signed Huff to a three-year, $51.1 million deal prior to the 2024 offseason. While that contract was reflective of his talent and his production for the Jets, Huff would have been forgiven for feeling under-appreciated after Philadelphia elected to trade him for a relatively poor return.
But back with his former head coach in Saleh’s second spell as 49ers defensive coordinator, Huff looks right at home, and there is no question of him being under-appreciated.
Asked if there was a conscious effort to make Huff feel the love upon trading for him, Saleh told his Thursday press conference:
“Oh, he knows. I begged him not to go to Philly the first time. But money talks. I’d like to think that he feels appreciated out here. Even if he wasn’t appreciated back out on the East Coast and two different locations, he’s definitely appreciated here. I’ve said it before, I’ve always said that those guys like [DL Nick] Bosa, the [Green Bay Packers DE] Micah Parsons of the world, all those great edge rushers, I put Huff up there with all of them. The guy produces at a very high level. They’re like closers of baseball, you know, you’ve got a bunch of guys standing in the outfield and the infield just watching this pitcher pitch. And he lights it up. But he’s a special talent and a talent that’s very precious in this league.”
There can be few greater expressions of appreciation for a pass rusher than a comparison to Bosa and Parsons, who have firmly established themselves as two of the best in the game at their position.
Huff is not widely thought of in the same way, with his inability to impress in Philadelphia’s system not helping his reputation....
