On Friday, it was reported that the Philadelphia Eagles were working to finalize a trade that would send edge defender Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers. The major details are Huff going to San Francisco and a mid-round pick coming to Philly, but there’s one minor detail that shows Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman made sure to get the most out of the deal.
Prior to the trade, Philadelphia restructured Huff’s contract, allowing the Eagles to only be responsible for $9.05 million of his yearly salary. The 49ers will have to pay the other $7.95 million for this season, and are also responsible for the remaining money on the third and final season of his contract. The move opens up a ton of cap space this season and in future years for Philadelphia, and the Eagles are getting a draft pick back for a player they were clearly finished with.
Eagles create cap space by restructuring Bryce Huff’s contract before trading him to 49ers
It was only last offseason when the Eagles signed Huff to a three-year, $51.1 million contract. After four years with the New York Jets, including a final season with 10 sacks, Huff was expected to be a big pickup for Philadelphia. Instead, he ended up only playing 12 games for the team, recording just 2.5 sacks. He missed five weeks with a wrist injury, but returned late in the season, but was ultimately inactive in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win.
Now, the team is moving on from him and the remaining two years of his contract. With Nolan Smith emerging as an impact player, the Eagles are set at the edge position. For Huff, on the other hand, he goes to a San Francisco 49ers team eyeing a bounce-back season. He’s also reuniting with 49ers’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who was Huff’s head coach during his time with the New York Jets.
