The Eagles weren’t very hesitant on day one of the legal tampering period of free agency. One of the new Eagles free agent signings was former New York Jets edge rusher Bryce Huff. Huff signed a three-year deal with the Eagles worth just over $50 million. Huff joins a full room of edge rushers, but it might not stay like that for long. With rumors surrounding a Haason Reddick trade possibly to the Houston Texans, and Josh Sweat reportedly on the trade block, Huff was the insurance plan in case both get dealt. However, Huff has the talent to be the next great Eagles pass-rusher and is likely the Eagles free agent signing that takes the Eagles into a different era.
Recent Eagles Free Agent Signing Introduces the Future
The New Eagles Defensive Era
With Eagles legends Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retiring, and Brandon Graham entering the final year of his career, the Eagles were going to need some injection of youth. Reddick turns 30 years old next season and had a worse season in 2023 than in 2022. Attempting to trade him or Josh Sweat, or both, is a move by the Eagles to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, Huff is also a really good player in his own right and will add immediate pass-rushing value to a defensive line that didn’t meet expectations in 2023.
In his four years with the Jets, Huff amassed 17.5 sacks as a rotational pass-rusher. However, last season he totaled 10 sacks in that rotational role. Huff is a player who puts his hand in the dirt and darts around offensive tackles with his explosiveness and speed. What he could offer in the run game is unknown, but he’s a player capable of multiple 12-sack seasons for the foreseeable future. He will be more than a serviceable replacement for either Reddick or Sweat.
How Eagles Free Agent Signing Bryce Huff Fits into the Eagles
New Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense thrives with explosive pass rushers in the mold of Bryce Huff. Look for him to be in a prominent role right away along with 2023 first-round rookie Nolan Smith. While Huff is more of a pure-pass rusher, Nolan Smith’s game is more diverse, making them great compliments to each other. Two juiced-up pass rushers to pair along with the destructive trio of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams will excite Fangio. It will also help the Eagles secondary tremendously, no matter if the young or older players are on the field. Still expect players like Brandon Graham and potentially Josh Sweat to be in the rotation, but Huff and Smith should be the premier edge rushers going forward.
Eagles Free Agent Signing Bryce Huff: Final Thoughts
The Eagles under Howie Roseman have always prioritized the defensive front. With key players seemingly on the way out, it makes sense for Roseman to be aggressive for this position and not let it go to chance in the NFL Draft. Eagles fans have been used to seeing Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham on the defensive side of the ball, but it couldn’t last forever. Assuming Reddick is traded, the new-look Eagles defensive line will transition the team and the fans into a new era. Add in the retirement of Eagles legend Jason Kelce, then the new era is even more apparent. But the new era is still teeming with talent that should get Eagles fans excited about the future.
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