When the Eagles shipped edge rusher Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers, it raised eyebrows across the league. But no one has been more outspoken about the decision — and what led to it — than longtime team leader Brandon Graham.
On a recent appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast, Graham didn’t hold back in his assessment of how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio handled Huff during his short stint in Philadelphia.
“It’s the system, not the player,” Graham said. “They asked Huff to do things that didn’t match what he’s built to do. That’s not on him.”
From dominance to disappearance
Bryce Huff arrived in Philly after a breakout 2023 season with the Jets, where he thrived as a pure edge rusher in a 4-3 Wide-9 system. But in Fangio’s 3-4 defense, Huff’s role shifted dramatically — and his production dipped as a result.
Instead of unleashing him off the edge, Fangio’s scheme often asked Huff to drop into coverage or play containment, limiting his explosive first step and pass-rush ability.
“He’s a QB hunter. Let him hunt,” Graham added. “You don’t make a racehorse pull a plow.”
Graham’s take: It wasn’t about talent
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Graham made it clear that Huff’s underwhelming 2024 campaign had nothing to do with effort or ability.
“I know what he can do. I’ve seen it. But when you don’t let a guy play to his strengths, you’re wasting him,” he said.
According to Graham, it’s a classic case of scheme clash — and not the first time it’s happened in Fangio-led defenses.
A better fit in San Francisco?
Now reunited with Robert Saleh, who coached him in New York, Huff is expected to return to a more familiar role in San Francisco’s aggressive front seven. That’s a move Graham believes will benefit both sides.
“Watch what happens when they cut him loose again. He’ll remind everyone who he is,” Graham predicted.
Fangio under growing scrutiny?
While Fangio was brought in to stabilize the Eagles’ defense, his system has already drawn criticism for rigidity and a lack of adaptability — especially when it comes to maximizing edge rush talent.
With veterans like Fletcher Cox gone and young stars like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis still evolving, Graham’s comments could signal deeper frustrations inside the locker room.
