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News broke Friday that the San Francisco 49ers are trading for Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff, a move expected to become official on June 1. Huff joins a defensive front that underwhelmed last season when it came to pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
RELATED Report: 49ers finalizing trade for Eagles DE Bryce Huff
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes Huff will make a meaningful impact on a 49ers defense once again led by coordinator Robert Saleh. Baldinger describes Huff as a pass-rushing specialist who thrives in obvious passing situations.
“He likes to be in a 4-point stance,” Baldinger said Friday on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. “He’s got an electric takeoff. He’s got a variety of moves to beat tackles in his business.”
Huff reunites with Saleh, who was the head coach of the New York Jets during Huff’s time there. While Huff spent last season with the Eagles, Baldinger believes Philadelphia didn’t fully utilize his strengths.
“He’s not a guy that’s going to drop into coverage and do all that kind of stuff,” Baldinger explained. “That’s what the Eagles wanted him to do, and he’s not that guy. Robert Saleh knows how to use him. He had him, basically, the whole time he was there.”
Huff’s most productive season came in 2023 with the Jets, when he recorded a career-high 10 sacks under Saleh’s leadership.
One player who should be excited about Huff’s arrival is fellow defensive end Nick Bosa, who failed to reach double-digit sacks last season for the first time since 2020.
“I think Nick would be the first to tell you that he wasn’t very good last year—not good enough, especially when the offense started to falter,” Baldinger said. “The defense had to pick it up, and they didn’t do that. So, they kind of rebuilt their defensive line last year. A lot of those guys are gone. They drafted Mykel Williams this year.
“I think Mikel can rush from the inside. I think they’re going to put their four best pass rushers out there and let them go eat. And, if I’m Nick Bosa, I’m thrilled with the signing, because I thought—in New York—I thought that he really brought some juice to that defense.
“They were one of the better defenses for most of the year until they fell apart at the end, when the offense couldn’t score any points in New York.”
Baldinger also emphasized that Saleh doesn’t rely on heavy blitzing to generate pressure. He prefers his front four to dominate the trenches and create havoc on their own.
“I think Bryce Huff is a good rotational player that can win off the edge, that can help Nick get back to where he needs to be,” Baldinger added. “I think Mykel and Alfred [Collins], the guys they drafted, should play a prominent role. But I feel like the 49ers pass rush got better, and if that’s the case, I think Nick Bosa will see more one-on-ones with a chance for that sack total to start picking up from what it was a year ago.”
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