How NFC Trade Helps Buccaneers’ Super Bowl Hopes originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the Philadelphia Eagles chose to trade edge rusher Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers last week, the expectation was that there wouldn’t be major shake-up among NFC contenders.
The reality, though, is that this move says a lot more about the NFC Playoff picture than originally perceived.
And it’s great news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Let’s start with the defending champs. The Eagles have struggled mightily to beat the Buccaneers over the last few years. They also have a pass rush that has now seen four players from last season all find new homes (one of them did retire). The departure of Huff won’t make things easier for Philly going forward.
Then there is the 49ers. After a dismal six-win finish in 2024, the team said goodbye to several starters on the defensive end. While Huff was most productive under head coach turned defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, he still has major weaknesses against the run.
That kind of weakness shows the 49ers won’t be very good against the run next season. … Especially in Saleh’s wide-nine approach.
Both teams are expected to be contenders alongside the Buccaneers this season. The fact that the competition may have have taken major steps backward in their run defense is great news for Tampa Bay. …
Especially with a 1,000-yard runner in Bucky Irving already on the team.
Tampa’s rushing attack will make things very difficult for both Philly and San Fran, And it could fundamentally shift the balance of power in the conference going forward.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.