Source: Eagles agree to terms with Bryce Huff, adding a free-agent edge rusher

The Eagles have agreed to terms with free-agent edge rusher Bryce Huff, according to an NFL source.

Huff, 25, will sign a three-year deal worth up to $51.1 million with $34.4 million guaranteed according to Bleacher Report. The former undrafted free agent played his first four seasons with the New York Jets and is coming off a career year in which he had 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hits, giving the Eagles an upside play on a defense that sorely lacked young cornerstones going into the offseason.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder has even better advanced numbers, ranking eighth in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric, which measures how often a rusher beats his block within 2.5 seconds. Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick ranked seventh in the metric. According to Next Gen Stats, Huff led the league in pressure rate among edge rushers with at least 250 snaps, just ahead of Cowboys star Micah Parsons albeit with significantly fewer snaps played.

The Eagles’ decision to sign Huff further signals the inevitability that either Josh Sweat or Reddick will be traded at some point this offseason. The Eagles are fielding trade calls for Sweat, according to league sources, and gave Reddick permission to seek a trade a month ago as both players enter the final year of their respective contracts.

Each player dropped off considerably during the team’s late-season collapse and strayed from the defensive structure, something that left the organization dissatisfied with the duo going into the offseason.

One year removed from compiling 70sacks, tied for third all-time, the Eagles’ defense had 43 last season and struggled mightily in key situations, ranking 31st in the NFL in third-down efficiency.

» READ MORE: Sources: Eagles receiving trade inquires for defensive end Josh Sweat, who could depart with Haason Reddick

Huff has 17.5 career sacks, 65 total tackles, and one forced fumble in four seasons. The former Memphis standout had 67 pressures in 2023, putting him just one shy of Reddick and three behind Sweat. It’s worth noting Huff was used mostly as a designated pass rusher during his tenure with the Jets, playing 42% of New York’s defensive snaps last season and setting a career-high at 51% in 2021. He had two sacks apiece in his first two seasons and had 3.5 in 2022.

With an average annual value around $17 million a year, Huff’s contract would put him around 15th among edge rushers early in the free-agency negotiation period. According to NFL Network, Huff’s deal could reach $20 million per year with incentives. The Minnesota Vikings reportedly agreed to a similar deal with free-agent edge rusher Jonathan Greenard on Monday as well, giving the 26-year-old an AAV of around $18.5 million.

Stylistically, Huff is more similar to Reddick than Sweat as more of a designated rusher rather than an every-down player. According to Pro Football Focus, Huff was on the field for just 134 run plays compared to 334 pass plays. The Eagles also have second-round edge rusher Nolan Smith capable of occupying a similar role as an undersized rusher, while veteran defensive end Brandon Graham is capable of filling in more on early downs as part of the rotation as well.

Jeff McLane contributed to this report.