Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who played alongside Bryce Huff last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, believes the San Francisco 49ers could be the perfect fit for the young pass rusher. Graham, now retired, recently joined the Ross Tucker Podcast and explained why the move to San Francisco might unlock Huff's full potential and why things didn't work out in Philadelphia.

A new opportunity in San Francisco


While Huff missed time due to injury last season, he appeared in 12 games but amassed only 2.5 sacks—a noticeable dip from his 10-sack breakout campaign with the New York Jets in 2023. That strong performance enticed the Eagles to aggressively pursue him in free agency, a move that didn't work out for the two sides.


Now, Huff joins a 49ers defense led once again by Robert Saleh, his former head coach with the Jets, who has returned to San Francisco as defensive coordinator. The team hopes Saleh can tap into the same level of production that made Huff such a disruptive presence in 2023.

Graham: It's all about scheme-fit


Graham suggested that Huff's underwhelming season in Philadelphia may have had more to do with scheme fit than a misjudgment of talent.

"I feel like it's all scheme," Graham said. "I've seen different guys flourish in different systems, and then you see them get in another system, it's different. And what they asked of him this year, it just wasn't a great marriage, I would say, because I know Huff can rush. I see him doing all that, but sometimes it's just different with the type of scheme and what people ask of you, and what they want you to be able to do."


Graham added that Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio may not have used Huff in a role that suited his strengths. A return to a wide-9 alignment, which emphasizes edge speed and aggression, could help Huff return to form.

H/t to Peter Panacy of Niner Noise for the find.


A chance to reignite his career


Graham is confident that Huff's best years are still ahead, especially now that he is reunited with Saleh and in a scheme that better suits his talents.

"I just know that he a baller, man," Graham said. "And he, hopefully, for him, I want it to be a win-win for the team and a win for him. But, in this case, I want him to be happy. Go out, if it's here or somewhere else, I want him to be able to go show what he can [do in] these prime years for him."

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