Eagles, 49ers Finalize Bryce Huff Trade
TODAY, 6:10pm: The two teams have officially announced the trade, pending a physical. The Eagles will receive a conditional fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-round selection based on performance conditions, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.
While the trade may represent one of the 49ers’ final big swings of the 2025 offseason, it didn’t come out of nowhere. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that the organization had been sniffing around on Huff since March.
FRIDAY, 10:20pm: While the restructure to Huff’s contract and his subsequent trade will clear more than $15MM off the Eagles’ 2025 salary cap, the team is only receiving $2.4MM in practical savings, according to OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald. Originally, Huff would have counted for $7.4MM against the 2025 cap with his option bonus prorating out over the next five years. Now, the Eagles will have to absorb a $4.94MM dead cap charge this year with $16.6MM in dead money in 2026.
12:43pm: To little surprise, Bryce Huff will not remain with the Eagles for 2025. A trade agreement is in place for the veteran edge rusher.
After remaining away from the team during spring workouts, Huff is set to be on the move shortly. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a trade has been worked out which will send him to the 49ers in return for a mid-round pick. The swap will officially take place after June 1. Schefter notes a Day 3 pick will change hands in this case.
Huff has restructured his contract to facilitate the trade. As Schefter’s colleague Field Yates details, Philadelphia declined Huff’s option bonus (which was worth a guaranteed $15.58MM), giving him a 2025 base salary of the same amount. The Eagles then converted $9.05MM of that salary into a signing bonus that they will absorb as dead money across the next two years. San Francisco will take on the remaining $7.95MM in base pay for the coming campaign. Philadelphia will save more than $15MM in cap space while the 49ers become responsible for the final two years of Huff’s contract.
Expectations were high for Huff upon his arrival in Philadelphia last year, but his $51MM pact did not work out as planned. This deal will allow him to reunite with Robert Saleh after the two worked together with the Jets. Saleh was the head coach for Huff’s final three years in New York and returned to the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position this offseason.
Returning to a Saleh-coached defense could help Huff return to his 2023 form, which featured 10 sacks and a league-high 21.3% pressure rate, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The 27-year-old struggled to adapt to Vic Fangio‘s scheme in Philadelphia, which demanded more versatility out of its edge defenders. In San Francisco, Huff can focus on rushing the passer, which could free up No. 11 pick Mykel Williams to take on a more variable role on third downs.
For the Eagles, this is yet another smart bit of business by general manager Howie Roseman, who pursued Huff aggressively last offseason but wasn’t afraid to admit his mistake and move on this year. The restructured contract is an example of Roseman’s creative salary cap management that allowed Philadelphia to avoid paying out the full $34MM of guaranteed money in Huff’s contract.
After letting Josh Sweat walk in free agency, the Eagles will need another edge defender to step up as a starter alongside Nolan Smith. They have multiple options to choose from after re-signing Patrick Johnson and adding Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche this offseason. 2024 third-rounder Jalyx Hunt could also earn a starting job after flashing his pass-rushing talent during the team’s playoff run last season.
49ers Reducing Christian McCaffrey’s Offseason Workload
Achilles and knee injuries limited Christian McCaffrey to just four games last year. The 49ers have their lead back healthy now, but to no surprise they are taking a cautious approach with his offseason workload. 
McCaffrey earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 after leading the NFL in a number of categories. That production helped earn him an extension and fresh set of guarantees but things did not go according to plan this past season. The two-time All-Pro will look to bounce back from an availability standpoint in 2025, joining other key 49ers in that regard.
“Right now, he’s as healthy as can be and we’ve got to protect him from himself,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) when speaking about how McCaffrey would be managed this spring. “He’s doing a lot less than he normally would do. I know he’s excited about how healthy he feels and the fact that he can get out there.”
On an offense featuring a number of other notable skill-position players, McCaffrey was a focal point for the unit en route to a Super Bowl appearance in 2023. Expectations for a repeat of his production were high until it became clear his Achilles tendinitis would require an IR stint and several weeks of recovery during the season. Not long after making his season debut in Week 10, a PCL injury ended his campaign. Fortunately for the 49ers, the three-time Pro Bowler was fully cleared in time for the start of spring practices.
San Francisco leaned on Jordan Mason to a large extent during McCaffrey’s absence last year. Despite tendering him at the second-round level, though, the team traded Mason to Minnesota in March. That move was followed by the selection of Jordan James in the fifth round of the draft, leaving McCaffrey in place with he, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor in the backfield. The 49ers’ depth options are all cost effective, something which represents a stark contrast to McCaffrey’s $19MM AAV.
That figure ranks second to only Saquon Barkley – who signed a new Eagles deal in the wake of his historic debut season with the Super Bowl winners. McCaffrey will again be expected to perform at an elite level in 2025, and helping ensure he is capable of doing so will no doubt continue to involve an unusually lighter practice schedule for the time being.
49ers Hoping Rookie DT Alfred Collins Can Earn Starting Role
Many expected the 49ers to address the defensive line in the first round of this year’s draft, but the team surprised many when they addressed the edge instead of the interior, taking Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams on Day 1. Perhaps, they felt comfortable waiting until Day 2 to address the position because, with its next pick, San Francisco drafted Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins, whom they hope can earn a starting role on the line as a rookie, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. 
Currently, the starting tackle spots on the defensive line are manned by Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens. Elliott joined the team last year after playing out his rookie contract in Cleveland and started 13 of 15 appearances. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has never graded Elliot favorably. The former third-round pick out of Missouri has only once graded in the top 100 players at his position in the NFL and that was this past year, when he ranked 97th out of 118.
Givens, too, has struggled in the eyes of PFF’s analytics throughout his six years with the team. His roles have been mostly rotational during that time, and although he earned a starting role in 2022 (11 starts in 13 appearances), he only has three starts in his career outside of that season. Last year, Givens was one of several 49ers to miss time with injuries, sitting for nine of the final 10 games of the season as he dealt with a pectoral tear.
Because of this, San Francisco is hoping to see not only Collins, but also fellow rookie CJ West and last year’s undrafted rookie Evan Anderson, earn significant roles on the line, as well. Anderson, signing with the team out of FAU last year, started one game in 12 appearances last season and graded out most favorably of the interior defenders on the 49ers, per PFF, ranking 49th out of 118 players graded at the position. West was extremely disruptive in four years as a starter in college — three at Kent State before transferring to Indiana. He had nine sacks and 27 tackles for loss in those four seasons. Although a bit undersized, West adds some pass rushing potential thanks to an impressive arsenal of ferocious moves.
Collins, though, is the player that was singled out by the staff with hopes of a starting role, per Barrows. What West lacks in ideal size, Collins makes up for with an exceptional 6-foot-5, 332-pound frame. His wide base and long arms give him impressive length, as well. His size doesn’t do him too many favors as a potential pass rusher, but he’s quick-footed enough at his size to erase gaps across the line in run defense. He’s a sure tackler who’s durable enough to handle the workload of a starter, even as a rookie.
We’ve got about two more months until training camp, but the next two weeks will see the team’s remaining Organized Team Activities workouts and mandatory minicamp. There’s plenty of time for the youngsters to earn more opportunities for bigger roles between now and the preseason. With hopes that Collins will break through as a strong run-defending starter, the team would ideally be looking to pair him with a defender with strong pass rushing potential like Givens, West, or Anderson.
49ers Hire Ethan Waugh
MAY 30: Waugh’s return is official, and the team announced he will operate with the title of personnel executive. That will entail a notable role in his second San Francisco stint.
MAY 22: Part of the Jaguars’ housecleaning in the front office was Ethan Waugh‘s departure immediately following the draft. Shortly after his Jacksonville exit, though, the veteran executive seems to have his next gig lined up.
The 49ers are expected to hire Waugh, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Provided the move officially takes place, it will represent a reunion between the parties. Prior to joining the Jaguars’ front office, Waugh worked with the 49ers.
Waugh and Trent Baalke worked alongside each other in San Francisco, so it came as no surprise when the two eventually continued their partnership in Jacksonville. After the latter’s 49ers tenure ended following the 2016 season, though, Waugh remained in place. He worked his way up to VP of player personnel before departing the team. Waugh is unlikely to hold that title again upon returning to San Francisco, but he will represent a familiar face to general manager John Lynch and Co.
Baalke appeared to be safe after the 2024 season ended, but as the Jags negotiated with Liam Coen to become their new head coach he wound up being fired. That move left Waugh to handle interim general manager duties until James Gladstone landed the full-time gig. To no surprise, Gladstone has brought in a number of ex-Rams executives in preparation for his first year at the helm.
Brian Xanders is among the veteran staffers in place with Jacksonville as the team moves forward at a number of executive and coaching positions. While that takes place, Waugh will prepare for his second San Francisco stint. The 49ers have been unusually busy in terms of working out extensions this spring, but Waugh will be able to assist with the team’s remaining priorities over the summer.
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall, S Ji’Ayir Brown Likely Sidelined Until Training Camp
The 49ers are already navigating a pair of notable injuries at the start of OTAs. Kyle Shanahan told reporters today that safety Ji’Ayir Brown recently underwent ankle surgery and is out until training camp (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Meanwhile, wideout Ricky Pearsall tweaked his hamstring and isn’t likely to practice in full until training camp (per Matt Barrows of The Athletic).
Brown’s absence would be especially notable considering his standing as one of the 49ers’ most reliable defenders. The former third-round pick carried over momentum from his rookie campaign into his sophomore year. The safety finished the 2024 season with 77 tackles and an interception while pacing the position in snaps played.
It’s unfortunate timing, as the 49ers are also without starting safety Malik Mustapha, who’s currently recovering from a torn ACL. This will provide an opportunity for a pair of newcomers to immediately get their feet wet. Free agent acquisitions Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock should temporarily lead the depth chart.
With Deebo Samuel no longer in the picture and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, Pearsall was one of several players with an opportunity to step up in the 49ers offense. The 2024 first-round pick overcame a gunshot injury to appear in 11 games as a rookie, finishing with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Pearsall will likely have a role waiting for him when he comes back, but his absence will provide Brock Purdy to build a rapport with more of the team’s WR depth. Jauan Jennings will likely be the team’s temporary WR1, while the likes of free agent addition Demarcus Robinson, rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins, and former fourth rounder Jacob Cowing compete for top spots on the depth chart.
In non-injury news, Trent Williams notably didn’t show up for OTAs, according to Shanahan (h/t David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com). The coach didn’t seem overly concerned about the lineman’s no-show, with Shanahan noting that Williams had been in the building for some spring practices.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/28/25
Wednesday’s only minor moves:
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Chazz Surratt
- Waived: LB DaShaun White
The 49ers already swapped punters today, and strangely, that transaction was the one to make headlines. It’s likely because Surratt and White have also primarily been special teamers so far in their careers. White, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2023, has split the last two years between the UFL and NFL, spending short stints with the Bills and Raiders before finally seeing an active roster in San Francisco, where he made his NFL debut.
Surratt’s special teams status is a bit more surprising. After switching from starting quarterback to linebacker after a season-ending injury and a head coaching change at North Carolina, Surratt became an All-American defender, racking up 206 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks in his two years at the position. Those two impressive seasons helped convince the Vikings to draft him in the third round.
After only appearing on special teams in nine games as a rookie, Surratt was waived before his sophomore season, rebounding with the Jets. He made five starts while playing in all 17 games last year, but he’s only got 37 total tackles in his four-year career.
49ers Sign P Thomas Morstead, Release P Mitch Wishnowsky
4:40pm: The Morstead signing is now official, and it will not spark a punter competition. Wishnowsky was released on Wednesday, per a team announcement. The latter move will generate just $266K in cap savings for San Francisco, and in the wake of Wishnowsky’s 2024 struggles and back injury questions will be raised about his NFL future.
9:06am: Thomas Morstead looks to have secured a chance to play a 17th NFL season. Once again released by the Jets, the veteran punter appears set to land with a 49ers team that has gathered some recent Jets personnel.
The former Super Bowl-winning specialist revealed Wednesday morning a 49ers commitment looms. This will reunite Morstead with Robert Saleh and former Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. One of the Jets’ Greg Zuerlein fill-ins, Greg Joseph, is also set to vie for the 49ers’ kicker job.
Although Morstead held his Jets gig during the first several weeks of the 2025 league year, he received walking papers two weeks after the draft. The Jets dumped he and Zuerlein; the latter remains unsigned after an injury-marred season. Morstead punted in 34 games for the Jets over the past two seasons, completing a second stint with the team. The longtime Saint’s first Jets work came in Saleh’s debut season as HC (2021); Boyer coached Morstead during both his Jets tours as well.
The 49ers roster seventh-year punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who is tied to a four-year, $11.2MM contract that runs through the 2026 season. But the veteran’s 2024 season ended early due to a back injury. Wishnowsky landed on IR after nine games, the first absences of the Australian punter’s career.
Wishnowsky, 33, is set to carry a $2.25MM cap number, though the 49ers would take on nearly $2MM by releasing him due to signing bonus proration. Nevertheless, it appears he will have competition to retain his longtime role this offseason.
Going into what would be an age-39 season, Morstead averaged 47.2 yards per punt in 2024. That was down slightly from his 48.8-yard average in 2023. Wishnowsky finished at 45.2 last season. Morstead punted for the Dolphins in 2022, after splitting the 2021 season between New York and Atlanta. He is still best known for a 12-season Saints tenure, which began with the SMU alum punting for the Super Bowl XLIV-winning New Orleans squad as a rookie.
49ers’ Brock Purdy Sought $65MM/Year Deal; No Trade Interest In QB
The 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy recently agreed to an extension that moves the former seventh-rounder near the top of the quarterback market in terms of average annual value ($53MM) but still outside the top five earners at his position. Cowboys passer Dak Prescott still leads the way with a $60MM AAV, and when negotiations between San Francisco and its own signal-caller commenced, Purdy tried to shatter Prescott’s number.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in an appearance on UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio, Purdy sought a yearly payout of $65MM at the outset of contract talks (via David Bonilla of 49ersWebZone.com).
“Yes, that was his initial asking price, 65 [million],” Schefter said. “But you know what? Everybody’s initial asking price should be high. That’s how it should be, and his was. I don’t know that he thought he was going to get that, but you might as well start high. Nothing abnormal or unusual about that at all.”
Given Purdy’s regression in 2024 and the fact that rival clubs have been rumored to view his surprising success largely as a function of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system, it was always unlikely he would approach his $65MM/year overture. However, contrary to prior suggestions that an overly-ambitious ask could throw a wrench in negotiations, it seems that was not the case.
Club brass never wavered on its long-held goal of finalizing an extension for Purdy, and after conversations got underway in February – Purdy was not eligible for a new contract until this offseason – there was no whisper of a hiccup or any other development that would delay an agreement. Rather, all public reports published after that date indicated the two sides were making good progress, and that progress culminated in a five-year, $265MM accord on May 16.
It thus appears that neither player nor team ever injected the notion of a trade into these proceedings, and Schefter confirms as much.
“I remember talking to teams, and just being like, ‘Hey,’ as they were trying to solve their quarterback needs, ‘any interest in Brock Purdy?'” Schefter said. “And they were like, ‘Great player, but he’s a great player for them.’ So they didn’t see it that way. So that was the opinion of other teams.”
Schefter’s statement does seem to validate the above-referenced belief that other teams see Purdy as a Shanahan product who would not do as well in a different offense. Perhaps aware of that reality, Purdy & Co. came down quite a bit from their initial proposal and ultimately “settled” for a contract well below their $65MM shot across the bow (the deal does come with a no-trade clause and favorable short-term cash flow, though the new money figures become more team-friendly in the second year of the extension term).
With his contract situation now resolved, Purdy and the Niners will attempt to regroup from a significant departure of talent this offseason – which was triggered in no small part by the QB’s impending big-money deal – and launch a bounceback 2025 campaign.
Brock Purdy Addresses 49ers Extension
Much of the 49ers’ offseason contract work has been taken care of well before training camp. That includes the long-term extension recently worked out with quarterback Brock Purdy. 
That five-year, $265MM pact ties Purdy to San Francisco through 2030 and ensures his earnings on his second NFL pact will vastly outweigh his first. The former ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ will receive a $40MM signing bonus, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details. Other notable payouts include option bonuses due in 2026 ($37.75MM), 2027 ($15MM) and 2028 ($20MM).
Purdy is assured of $100MM at signing, and the outstanding money which is not already locked in for 2027 ($15.35MM) will shift from an injury to a full guarantee on April 1, 2026. A $55.05MM injury guarantee exists for 2028, but $5MM of that total will be fully locked in early if Purdy handles at least a 50% snap share and the 49ers win the Super Bowl this year or next. Of his 2029 compensation, $7.15MM will become a full guarantee on April 1, 2028, with the remaining $5MM vesting one year later. Workout and roster bonuses are present throughout the deal, which includes a non-guaranteed base salary of $49.05MM in its final year.
With an average annual value of $53MM, this deal moves Purdy near the top of the market for quarterback compensation. His pact nevertheless falls short of similar ones signed before this offseason, and considering the trend of QB contracts leapfrogging each other as the cap continues to surge this can be viewed as a team-friendly arrangement. That is particularly true in 2027 when it comes to cashflow – which will stand at $110MM in new money at that point – as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap writes.
“We want to make sure that we’re working together with our organization and setting up everybody for success,” Purdy said when speaking to the media about his extension (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “It’s not just for me to get all the money as much as I can, but also, hey, let’s surround yourself with a great team and players and a great locker room, and all those things mattered.”
In addition to a major spike in pay and a series of rolling guarantees, Purdy’s deal contains a no-trade clause. A number of other terms had been agreed to in the days leading up to the agreement, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. Just prior to the deal being signed, though, other elements – one of those likely being the clause – came up in negotiations. Franchise quarterbacks receiving no-trade clauses is nothing new, but Purdy’s deal is the first in 49ers history to include one.
“I think it’s important, yes, but also that’s something that my agent and I had discussed with what other quarterbacks have around the league and stuff in their contract,” the 25-year-old added during his press conference (via Florio). “But, for me, was it going to be a determining factor in signing it or not? No. We were very grateful that we had it in there, but… everything else that the contract entails we’re extremely excited about, so we’re just grateful how it turned out.”
Given the structure of the deal, the 49ers will have Purdy in place atop the depth chart for at least the next three seasons. San Francisco’s first opportunity to move on from the Iowa State product will come during the 2028 offseason before his next round of guarantees kicks in, as a release would yield over $41MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of only $16MM. If things go according to plan for team and player, though, such a move will not receive consideration.
49ers, Fred Warner Agree To Extension
THURSDAY, 7:45pm: The 49ers have officially announced the extension.
“Fred’s leadership is exemplary and his approach to his craft is contagious,” said GM John Lynch. “Fred sets the tone for our entire team with the consistency, speed and physicality with which he plays. Off the field, his passion, energy, and professionalism are second to none and truly embody what it means to be a Niner. We are extremely proud to get this extension done and lock Fred in for the future.”
MONDAY, 4:00pm: Talks with Fred Warner have indeed resulted in an extension agreement. The 49ers have come to terms with the All-Pro linebacker on another lucrative deal. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports team and player have agreed to a three-year extension. The pact is worth $63MM in total and includes $56MM in guarantees. For the second time in his career, Warner holds the title of the NFL’s highest-paid middle linebacker.
The top of the LB market stood at $20MM annually entering Monday, with Warner ranking second behind only Roquan Smith in terms of AAV. This latest San Francisco commitment will move Warner up to $21MM per season, which represents a slight raise on that front while no doubt lowering his scheduled cap hits for the next two years. The four-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through 2029.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports notes Warner will still earn $18.25MM in 2025, but this pact includes $5MM in additional compensation through 2026 compared to the previous one. $39.5MM of full guarantees are in place. Between now and the end of the 2028 season, $42MM in new money will be paid out.
In recent years, San Francisco has seen negotiations for its top players drag deep into the summer. That has not proven to be the case in 2025, however. Tight end George Kittle landed a new pact recently, and that was followed in short order by Brock Purdy becoming the league’s latest big-money quarterback. Warner loomed as the next logical target for such a commitment on the part of the 49ers, although as of April it seemed as though there was still plenty of work to be done on the negotiating front.
More recently, though, it became clear progress was being made. The latest update on the matter noted an agreement was close, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Warner will remain a focal point of San Francisco’s LB unit in particular and the team’s defense in general for years to come, something of increased importance given the departures seen on that side of the ball this spring. Dre Greenlaw was among the starters who left in free agency, with the pending Purdy extension playing a role in the 49ers’ spending plans. Obviously a new Warner pact was also in the team’s budget.
The former third-rounder has handled full-time starting duties during each of his seven years in the league; he has missed only one game during that span. Warner’s consistency as a run defender (at least 118 tackles each season) and play against the pass (seven interceptions, 28 pass deflections) has helped his case for being the league’s best linebacker, and his financial situation once again reflects that. The 28-year-old will remain in the Bay Area through the remainder of his prime.
Improved play on both sides of the ball will be required if the 49ers are to return to the postseason in 2025. Better health on offense will be a key factor, but the while the team’s defense integrates a number of new starters Warner will continue in his pivotal role with his long-term future secured.