Mild improvement in San Francisco expected with Bryce Huff acquisition

The San Francisco 49ers will be looking for a bounce back season in 2025. Last season they never really got things on track. San Francisco had Super Bowl aspirations, but at the end of the day had a disastrous year. No one anticipated that that they would have a record of six wins and 11 losses, and be four wins back of the division champion Los Angeles Rams.

One major reason for the 49ers struggles was the fact that Christian McCaffrey did not play due to injuries to his Achilles, calf and posterior cruciate ligament. When you take your biggest offensive weapon off your team, struggles are simply going to be a formality. One might also have been surprised this past season was how much the 49ers defense struggled too. They gave up 436 points, the third most points in the National Football Conference. Only the Carolina Panthers (534 points) and Dallas Cowboys (468 points) gave up more.

On Friday, it was announced the 49ers made a significant trade that could improve their defense, and reduce some of the pressures off defensive end Nick Bosa of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In acquiring another defensive end in Bryce Huff of Mobile, Alabama, the 49ers have the potential of reducing opposition point totals and leading to more victories. Huff is coming to San Francisco for a mid-round draft pick.

Huff is joining his third NFL franchise. He previously played four seasons with the New York Jets from 2020 to 2023, and last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite winning a Super Bowl in 2024, Huff did not have a significant impact to the Eagles, and his $17 million annual salary over three years would have been considered a bit of a disappointment. From a statistical perspective, Huff only had 13 combined tackles (five solo tackles and eight assisted tackles), four quarterback hits, three tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. The forced fumble came in a 34-6 Eagles win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 10.

The 49ers meanwhile will be looking for Huff to deliver from his statistical totals with the New York Jets in 2023. That year he had a career high 10 sacks.

At the end of the day, the acquisition of Huff in San Francisco has the potential of being a mild impact. It is unrealistic to think he will be a huge difference maker. If the 49ers have a significant improvement in the win column in 2025, it will be because of McCaffrey’s return.

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