Bryce Huff will receive the bag this offseason from someone.
The New York Jets may not offer a huge contract. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus advised the Green and White not to let Huff go.
“For a team in the midst of an all-in window with Aaron Rodgers, a mid-rate deal for a designated pass-rushing specialist who can make game-changing plays in high-leverage moments would make a lot of sense,” Spielberger explained in a piece published on Thursday, January 25. “Huff’s 23.8% pass-rush win rate over the past two seasons trails only the great Myles Garrett, and he made strides as an early-down run defender as his role grew.”
According to Spotrac’s assessed market value, Huff is expected to get a four-year $36 million contract this offseason. According to Over The Cap, his $9.2 million annual pay would position him as the 25th highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL.
Huff signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent for $2.3 million. After that deal expired, Gang Green offered Huff a second-round restricted free agent tender of $4.3 million.
Now, the former Memphis product will be an unrestricted free agency for the first time in 2024.
Spielberger called the Jets’ decision not to offer Huff an early deal this season a “interesting” one.
“I do know that there were conversations about re-signing Huff during the season, but they just ultimately decided they didn’t want to sign any of these guys to new deals [at that moment in time],” Zack Rosenblatt, editor in chief of The Athletic, said on “TOJ Talks.”
By NFL standards, Huff hasn’t made much money in his first four seasons. If the Jets had been more proactive in trying to sign Huff to a long-term contract during the season, they may have saved a lot of money.
Instead, they decided to let things play out. Huff had a stellar year and is now ready to enter the free market at the age of 25.
Spielberger stated that Will McDonald “wins in a similar manner” to Huff on the field as bendy pass rushers. He hypothesized that partnering with McDonald in 2024 was the “preferred” succession plan for replacing Huff.
“In retrospect, it feels like they [the Jets] were planning for the possibility of losing Bryce Huff [when they selected McDonald],” Rosenblatt said on the “TOJ Talks” podcast.
Huff is coming off a breakout year in which he had 10 sacks. McDonald had only three sacks and few snaps in his rookie season.
In some ways, you understand what Huff is. McDonald is still a high-potential mystery.
It seems extremely hazardous to let Huff go before of an all-in season. Especially given he plays a premium position and has yet to reach his prime. If McDonald fails to make the sophomore leap, the Jets may come to regret letting Huff go play for someone else.
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