Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers traded for struggling Eagles DE
Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers traded for struggling Eagles DE
The San Francisco 49ers didn't give up nearly as much in a trade for defensive end Bryce Huff as they did for defensive end Dee Ford in 2019. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is hopeful Huff will have a similar impact.
Shanahan on Tuesday invoked Ford's name when discussing how Huff could help their defense after being acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
"I just like Bryce. I think he affects the quarterback," Shanahan said in a press conference. "When you talk about just getting off the ball and how fast he does it. He will be our best get off the ball guy we've had since Dee Ford. So in terms of that, it's good to beat tackles that way, but also widens tackles to help with the inside pass rush and things like that and he affects the quarterback.'
Injuries ultimately derailed Ford and kept him from reaching his ceiling as a player, but his impact on the 49ers' pass rush in the 2019 season was undeniable. That year he tallied only 252 pass rush snaps, but generated 33 pressures and eight sacks in 14 games including the playoffs according to Pro Football Focus. His presence also helped defensive tackle Arik Armstead post a career-high 10.0 sacks. DT DeForest Buckner added 7.5 sacks from the interior, and rookie DE Nick Bosa racked up 9.0 sacks en route to a Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
There's a key difference between Ford and Huff in their arrivals in San Francisco. Ford was acquired in 2019 for a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He was also coming off the best season of his career. Huff was acquired for a Day 3 pick after struggling in his only season with the Eagles. Huff joined the Eagles after the best season of his career in 2023 when he had 10.0 sacks for the New York Jets and then-head coach Robert Saleh. Shanahan is optimistic the 49ers with Saleh as their defensive coordinator offer a better scheme fit that will unlock what Huff discovered in 2023. 'I don't think, he didn't play that much. I think he sat for a number of games. I just think the player didn't change. He just didn't fit as well in their scheme, and just what they do schematically and stuff. I think they wanted to go a different direction with stuff, their outside guys drop into coverage and things like that, being the three-four base and that's something we really never do. So it's a little bit different. But as far as just watching him on tape and stuff, he always kind of looked the same. I just don't think the opportunities were there for him.'
'I just think the player didn't change," Shanahan said. "He just didn't fit as well in their scheme, and just what they do schematically and stuff. I think they wanted to go a different direction with stuff, their outside guys drop into coverage and things like that, being the three-four base and that's something we really never do. So it's a little bit different. But as far as just watching him on tape and stuff, he always kind of looked the same. I just don't think the opportunities were there for him.'
It's a gamble, but one the 49ers needed to make with such a thin defensive end group. Huff gives them a true speed rusher who can pin his ears back in passing situations to offer support across from Bosa. If Huff does step in and have a similar impact to Ford, it will give Saleh and the 49ers options in how they can best affect quarterbacks with their revamped defensive front.
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