Rams fans now have 1 more reason to loathe their bitter NFC West Division rival

The Los Angeles Rams boast one of the most rapidly developing, energetic, and productive pass rushes in the NFC West Division. It's respected around the NFL and is quickly becoming one of the most feared as well. But for how long?

When the New York Jets signed former Memphis rookie edge rusher Bryce Huff to their roster after the 2020 NFL Draft, even they were surprised that he was still on the board. While not projected to hear his name early in the draft, he was still among the top ten edge rushers on the board, or perhaps among the top 15 edges with a less promising draft profile.

Still, he fell into a rotational role with the Jets and may have remained there until everything clicked for him in 2023 under HC Robert Saleh and DC Jeff Ulbrich. In 2023, Huff translated just 480 defensive snaps into 29 tackles, 33 QB pressures, and 10.0 quarterback sacks. And he did not simply have one good game. He managed to record at least 1.0 quarterback sacks in eight different games and against seven different NFL opponents.

So when he found himself open to signing with a new team in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, the Philadelphia Eagles were eager to ink him to a new and very lucrative deal for three years worth up to $51 million. Ah, but Huff had just that one good season. For the Eagles, Huff resumed his rotational role, getting just 13 tackles and 2.5 quarterback sacks in 285 defensive snaps. And despite the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory, Huff did not see action.

Salary dump or strategic acquisition?

The Philadelphia Eagles are no strangers to regrouping after a failed effort to improve their roster. Both Rams GM Les Snead and Eagles GM Howie Roseman are quick to move on from a player who simply does not generate the level of production that their contract anticipated. And so, it comes as no surprise to NFL fans to read that the Eagles are more than happy to entertain offers for a young edge rusher who simply did not pan out.

The surprising part is that the buyer is rumored to be the San Francisco 49ers, and the compensation is reportedly a mid-round pick. Hmmm.

The trade will reunite Huff with Robert Saleh, the head coach whose defensive blueprint allowed him to shine in 2023. The trade also rips a very expensive underformer from the Eagles' post-Super Bowl roster, a move that has more positive consequences than we can list right now.

But from the vantage point of at least one Philadelphia Eagles beat reporter, Huff was already destined for a limited role in the Eagles defense this year. The move very much seems to mirror a trade made by the Rams in 2021 that allowed the team to acquire RB Sony Michel from the New England Patriots for a package of Round 3 and Round 5 picks. For the Rams, the move ensured that they had a featured north-south veteran runner.

For the Patriots, they traded away a running back who was destined to spend most of his time on their bench.

Per Ross Tucker, that is what awaits Bryce Huff with the Eagles if no trade develops:

The 49ers are desperate enough to attempt to pair up veteran edge rusher Nick Bosa with a productive teammate. They currently have Georgia rookie Mykel Williams slated as the starter. Whether this is a sign of disappointment in Williams' initial look in OTAs or simply an opportunity to add a veteran who is too good to pass up is difficult to determine at this time.

The 49ers defense parted ways with veteran DE Leonard Floyd and is eager to backfill that position with a productive veteran. The opportunity afforded by the Eagles gives them that chance to reinforce questionable depth at a vital position.

Any move that helps the 49ers is a move Rams fans will not like. But in the process of improving the 49ers' defense, the move also clears a great deal of overpaid cap space from the Eagles' books. And for that reason, the Rams fans now have one more reason to loathe their bitter NFC West Division rival

As always, thanks for reading.

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