The San Francisco 49ers have a big need along the edge after the season-ending injury to Nick Bosa, so it comes as no surprise that they're being mentioned as a potential trade suitor for Cincinnati Bengals star EDGE Trey Hendrickson.
In an article published Saturday, The Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that she expects general manager John Lynch to at least put in a call for Hendrickson ahead of the trade deadline in November.
"San Francisco is canvassing the pass rusher market to fill the void left by Nick Bosa’s injury," Russini wrote. "I expect them to call Cincinnati about Trey Hendrickson."
General manager John Lynch has made it quite clear he's in the market for pass-rush help, so look for the Niners to make some semblance of a move before November's deadline.
“I've been very clear: You're not going to find a player that's going to go replace Nick Bosa, and be as effective as him,” Lynch told KNBR. “That’s really difficult to do. But can you find someone who makes the entirety of our group better, such that collectively we’re better? That’s more in line with what we’re looking for. There’s so many variables and you gotta find a partner that makes sense — all those things.
“But there’s plenty of discussions. Right now I’m real proud of the way — the effort our guys are playing with. And if we find a way to make our football team better, and it aligns, then we will not be shy on pulling the trigger," Lynch added.
There are few players in the NFL who can fill Bosa's shoes, but Hendrickson is one of them.
Over the past two seasons, nobody in the NFL had more sacks than Hendrickson, who tallied 35 in that span. So far this season, the four-time Pro Bowler has four sacks and 21 pressures through five games, ranking in the top 10 and top 15, respectively, in both categories.
Hendrickson also fits into the 49ers' model of trying to get its financial house in order over the next few years, as he's set to be a free agent in 2026 and won't require a long-term commitment, unless the Niners want to give him one.
The problem with this idea is that the Bengals may not be keen on trading the star edge rusher if the playoffs are still in sight.
The prospects of that aren't looking good right now with Joe Burrow out until at least mid-December, but if the Bengals can string some wins together ahead of the deadline and stay in the hunt, they won't want to sell off pieces knowing they might be able to make a run once Burrow gets back.
But if things continue to go south in Cincinnati, it's conceivable Hendrickson could get traded.
After all, we know he isn't happy with the Bengals after failed contract talks during the offseason that led to Hendrickson settling for a revised $29 million contract. That means he's now slated to hit free agency in 2026.
If the Bengals aren't going to make the long-term commitment to Hendrickson, they absolutely should trade him instead of risking him leaving for nothing next year.
And, with the Niners looking like contenders at 4-1, they absolutely should take a swing on a trade for Hendrickson, who would be just what the doctor ordered for a San Fran defense that has just six sacks, tied for the third-fewest in the league.
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