Bryce Huff was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has developed into a good pass rusher over the course of his three seasons in the league.
After starting seven games in 2021, Huff moved back into a rotational role as a situational pass rusher in 2022 and responded well with a career high 3.5 sacks and one of the best pressure rates in the league. The Jets will need to make a decision on Huff, who is a restricted free agent.
So, should Gang Green bring Huff back?
Why Huff should be back
Despite an impressive preseason, Huff began the season as a healthy scratch. But once he got an opportunity to contribute, they couldn’t keep him off the field.
For the majority of the season, the Jets used Huff and Carl Lawson as their defensive ends in pass rushing situations, trading away Jacob Martin -- who had started the season in that role -- at the deadline. Over the course of the season, Huff averaged more than one pressure per five pass rush attempts. That was the best pressure rate on the team and one of the best in the league.
Since he’s a restricted free agent, the Jets can bring Huff back at an affordable price, with the option to match or the potential for draft pick compensation if another team signs him to an offer sheet. This could make him a bargain if he builds on his 2022 season and takes his game to the next level in 2023. The most likely level they would tender him at would be with a second-round tender, which would make his cap number about $4 million in 2023.
In addition to his pass rushing role, Huff also contributed on special teams, including as a blocker on the kick return unit. His 161 special teams snaps ranked 12th on the team.
Why Huff shouldn’t be back
Part of the reason that Huff began the year as a healthy scratch was that the Jets were deeper at defensive end than any other position, and that looks likely to remain the case in 2023, even though Vinny Curry is also a free agent.
Do the Jets really want to keep Huff in the rotation, which potentially blocks Jermaine Johnson and Micheal Clemons from having an increased role in their upcoming second season? Toward the end of the season, the Jets started to give Johnson some of the situational pass rush reps, perhaps foreshadowing their intent to build up his workload. Huff’s playing time dropped as a result.
One option the Jets could pursue is a trade of Huff. If they tender him, they could then seek a trade with another team if they really do view him as surplus. That’s something that could probably wait until the preseason, though, so they can ensure Johnson stays healthy and develops as hoped before parting ways with Huff.
The 24-year old’s pressure numbers could tempt a team that is seeking pass rushing upgrades into a deal, with the hope that he can flourish in a bigger role. However, Huff may be considered too one-dimensional for the Jets to make a long-term commitment to him. Having struggled against the run in 2022, Huff didn’t see any playing time on running downs in 2023. In fact, other than his 3.5 sacks, he only recorded two tackles – one on a short pass and one after a quarterback scramble.
Verdict
Huff stepped up in 2023 and had his best year of his career so far, even though he received less playing time than he had in the previous season. The Jets got the best out of him by only using him in those situations where his weaknesses were mitigated and he had good production lining up alongside the likes of Lawson, Quinnen Williams, and John Franklin-Myers in the Jets’ primary pass rush packages.
Unless Huff can bulk up in the offseason and prove that he’s capable of holding up better against the run, his immediate future will likely be filling that situational pass rush role. Whether the Jets keep him in their long-term plans will depend on whether they think they can justify keeping him to play a part-time role, when they have other players who bring more versatility to the table.
The fact that he’s a restricted free agent gives the Jets options, and they will weigh what is best for them and the player before deciding to retain him or seek a trade. Letting him walk does not seem like a viable option, so you can expect the Jets to tender him before further exploring these options.