49ers trade rumors from ESPN give hope for edge rusher blockbuster, insight into deadline plans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco 49ers are going to scour the trade market for help at edge rusher and linebacker after the season-ending injuries to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
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Of course, finding a one-for-one replacement for both players will be impossible, but general manager John Lynch needs to do something in order to bolster his banged-up defense with the team sitting at 4-2.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Niners have interest in adding Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that, so there continues to be smoke around the idea San Fran will go after the four-time Pro Bowler, who is one of the few players who could fill Bosa’s shoes.
However, Fowler notes that, as of right now, the Bengals don’t plan to trade the reigning sacks leader, although ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes it’s possible if Cincinnati falls to 2-7 by the time the trade deadline hits.
“Yes, the 49ers have been scanning the trade market for pass-rush options. I’m told the Niners consider Trey Hendrickson an ideal fit for their defense if the Bengals would part with him for reasonably priced compensation,” Fowler wrote.
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“But I’m also told Cincinnati has no plans to trade Hendrickson at this time. Despite a 2-4 record, Cincinnati plans to remain all-in on this season, and the offense showed signs of life with Joe Flacco on Sunday in Green Bay,” he added.
“I’ve been told the same thing on Hendrickson — that the Bengals don’t intend to trade him. Let’s see what happens these next couple of weeks. If they lose to the Steelers, Jets and Bears and wake up on trade deadline day with a 2-7 record, maybe they consider it,” Graziano wrote.
Fowler thinks San Fran will take a look at the Green Bay Packers’ Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare, the Miami Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, the New York Jets’ Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald and the Tennessee Titans’ Arden Key. Fowler doesn’t believe Gary will be available, though.
At linebacker, Graziano names the Jets’ Quincy Williams as an option, and Fowler mentions the Houston Texans’ Christian Harris as another, but Graziano goes on to say the Niners, who are supposed to be in a transitional year, may stick to that plan and avoid making big moves that significantly impact the future.
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“Still, my sense is the 49ers will try to find a balance between adding help and preserving picks. After all, this season was considered a quasi-transitional period for San Francisco, which let several starters walk and replenished with younger players on less expensive contracts,” Graziano said. “I’m not sure giving up quality picks for both the edge and linebacker positions is the most prudent thing, given the plan outlined all offseason. Perhaps the 49ers can utilize or repackage one of their three fourth-round picks in 2026 to acquire two quality players. Getting edge help, to me, is crucial because of how the defense is built.”
Graziano goes on to say that the Niners may not just look at linebacker and edge rusher.
He also believes wide receiver could be on the table for Lynch considering how many injuries the team has dealt with at the position this season.
“It also doesn’t have to be defense for the 49ers. They’ve been extremely banged up in their wide receiver corps this season,” Graziano said. “They still don’t know for sure when Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is coming back. They already signed Kendrick Bourne, who has been a star the past two weeks with Ricky Pearsall (knee) out and Jauan Jennings (ribs) playing hurt, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the help the 49ers bring in from the outside comes on the offensive side of the ball.”
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Lynch does find himself in a tough spot. Yes, the Niners are supposed to be in a transitional year, but they’re also 4-2 and at least a playoff contender.
How big Lynch goes will depend upon a few things: the market (which will be very expensive at edge rusher) and if he thinks the Niners are a Super Bowl contender.
Based on the fact that we keep seeing Hendrickson’s name mentioned as a possible trade target for San Francisco suggests Lynch is at least thinking about taking a big swing to fill obvious voids.
San Francisco has three more games left before the deadline, so there’s ample time to figure out where this team sits before Nov. 4 hits.
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