As if Kyler Murray didn’t have enough to worry about.
Despite coming in last in the NFC West last year, many analysts have predicted that Brock Purdy and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers will bounce back into Super Bowl-contender form. Gross.
Securing a playoff position in the NFC West is going to be a knock-down, drag-out, slobberknocker of a fight. AEW wishes it were as violent as THIS competition—especially after the news that arrived on Friday. Because it was good news for the Niners and very, very bad news for the Cardinals (and the rest of the division)
Bryce Huff reportedly headed to the San Francisco 49ers in trade
ESPN reported that the 49ers were working on a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to send edge rusher Bryce Huff to San Francisco. Sources told ESPN that in return, the defending Super Bowl champions would secure “a mid-round pick.” The report did not specify which round in which draft this hypothetical pick would be made.
The trade cannot and would not be processed until after June 1, due to salary cap restrictions. ESPN reports that the Eagles restructured Huff's contract to accommodate this. He was set to collect $17 million, fully guaranteed. The Eagles will now "take on only $9.05 million in salary, leaving the 49ers responsible for the remaining $7.95 million due to Huff this season."
The main key to all this: Huff will reunite with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who was Huff’s former head coach when they were both on the New York Jets.
Huff + Saleh = Pain For Murray
During his sole year in Philly, Huff racked up 13 tackles (5 solo), 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. But, in his last year as Jet (aka his last year under Saleh), Huff picked up 29 tackles, 10 sacks, and had “68 pressures on just 312 pass rush snaps,” what Next Gen Stats said was the “best pressure rate in the NFL.”
Huff will join Nick Bosa (52 tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, one interception in 2024) and rookie Mykel Williams (21 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles in his senior year at Georgia) to make an elite pass-rushing unit.
With a focus on shoring up the defense this offseason, the Cardinals have done little to beat the “terrible O-line” allegations. And with Huff joining the 49ers, that “San Francisco Will Win 12 Games” prediction Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr made is coming closer to fruition.
We know offensive coordinator Drew Petzing likes to run the ball, so they may not be worried about pass rushers if the offensive line is currently “good enough” in the coaches’ eyes. And NBC Sports reports that 2024 was the “second straight year in which the Cardinals' offensive line ranked near the top of the league in yards created before contact.”
If the O-line can neutralize Huff, Bosa and Williams enough to make an opening for James Conner, then Arizona might be able to secure a win when they meet the Niners in Week 3.
Other than that, it’s more of the same. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. need to step up and keep a close eye on this new threat.