The San Francisco 49ers began the year with one of the more intimidating defensive fronts in the NFL.
But that unit got a little less threatening after the season-ending ACL injury to former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa in Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s the second time in the last six seasons that Bosa’s year was ended before Week 4 due to an ACL injury. He missed 14 games during the 2020 season after tearing his other ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.
But the 49ers are in a precarious position.
They’re 3-0 and sit atop the NFC West, and despite injuries to quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, they still have a good shot of making some noise in the playoffs.
But they acquired edge-rusher Bryce Huff in the offseason to work opposite Bosa along the defensive line, not replace him.
The 28-year-old Huff likely isn’t ready to step into Bosa’s shoes, which is why Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard believes they should turn their attention toward the trade market — more specifically the Cincinnati Bengals.
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“There’s one trade scenario that stands out far above other possibilities,” Kawakami wrote. “What about checking with the Cincinnati Bengals about Trey Hendrickson?
“… Hendrickson isn’t likely to cost the multiple first-round picks it took for the Packers to get Parsons from Dallas this month…I’ll put it this way: I don’t think that’s what it’d cost if Cincinnati is ready to trade Hendrickson.”
Kawakami posed a trade package that could pique the Bengals interest with several tiers that only sweeten the deal for Cincinnati provided Hendrickson hits certain thresholds.
His proposal would send first- and third-round picks in 2026 and a second-rounder in 2027 if Hendrickson plays at least 60% of the team’s remaining defensive snaps, the 49ers make it to the playoffs, and they sign him to a contract extension.
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He then poses a scenario where San Francisco parts with just its 2026 first-rounder if Hendrickson plays at least 60% of the snaps and the team reached the postseason but he doesn’t sign an extension, and another one where the 49ers surrender a 2026 second-rounder if Hendrickson plays less than 60% of the snaps or the team misses the playoffs.
“If the 49ers and Bengals can find a way to do something like this, it would get the Bengals the shot at quality compensation in a lost season for a player they’re likely losing anyway,” Kawakami reasoned.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did tell reporters earlier this week that filling Bosa’s spot via trade is something the team is exploring.
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