NFL Trade Rumors
Since the last time we explored this topic back in November, a ton has happened all across the NFL to change the picture. There was over a month of regular-season action that players added to their tape, good, bad or in between. Eighteen teams missed the playoffs and another 10 have since been eliminated. Nine teams will have different head coaches and two of those will also have new general managers, and nothing prompts roster turnover quite like a regime change.
So here’s a refreshed look at the potential salary cap casualties around the league as 28 teams have turned their attention to the offseason.
The biggest decision for the 49ers will be what to do with Huff. San Francisco inherited the final two years of a three-year, $51 million deal he signed with the Eagles in 2024, $17.1 million of which is due in the final year in 2026. None of that is guaranteed. Huff started strong with four sacks in the first seven games but has been on a drought since mid-October.
Those two numbers are hard to square. However, some others paint a better picture. Huff remained 12th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate and hit second-best marks for his career in quarterback hits and pressures (albeit on a career-high in snaps). While $17 million seems like a lot, it might not be too far off what Huff would command as a free agent considering the market for pass rushers has skyrocketed. The top guys command quarterback money, and it’s raised the level for everyone beneath them.
Most of Huff’s money is in an option bonus that is due March 13. If the 49ers are content with the value, he’ll only count $5.4 million against their cap this year thanks to how the Eagles structured the contract. If not, that serves as a deadline for a decision.
The breakout of Bears first-round TE Colston Loveland** down the stretch has cemented him as a big piece of the offense going forward. It also means a smaller role for Kmet, who probably is one of the 32 best tight ends in the league but will be relegated to No. 2 duties behind Loveland. His current salary is not tenable for that role, so something will have to give.
Swift very well could have played his way into the team’s 2026 plans. He set new career highs in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and rushing touchdowns in 2025, and the Bears were third in the NFL in rushing. Anecdotally, Swift looked like he was running as hard as he ever had, refuting criticisms from other stops that he would go down on contact too easily. While $7.5 million is notable savings for a running back, it would be surprising if the Bears just outright replaced him.
I’m not sure if the Bears will want to drastically shake up...
