The San Francisco 49ers are reeling after a disappointing 2025 NFL season that saw them miss out on the NFC title game, falling to the eventual Super Bowl LX champions, the Seattle Seahawks. With fierce NFC West rivals like the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams showing no signs of slowing down—especially after the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Trent McDuffie—the Niners are under pressure to upgrade their roster. One glaring weakness? Their pass rush, which managed a meager 20 team sacks last season, even with star edge rusher Nick Bosa sidelined for much of the year.

Enter the bombshell update from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, dropped during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where he provided fresh insights into two premier pass rushers who could transform San Francisco’s defense: free agent Trey Hendrickson and trade candidate Maxx Crosby. Schefter’s revelations have sent shockwaves through the Bay Area, highlighting both opportunities and steep challenges for the 49ers as free agency looms on March 11.

Schefter’s Take on Trey Hendrickson: A Free Agency Fit for the Niners?
Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals’ standout edge rusher, became an unrestricted free agent after the team opted not to franchise tag him, a move that surprised many given his consistent production. Just one year removed from leading the league in sacks, Hendrickson tallied 12.5 sacks in 2025 despite playing through injuries. Schefter emphasized that Hendrickson’s market is heating up, with multiple teams vying for his services.

“He’s only a year removed from leading the league in sacks, his market will be pretty good,” Schefter noted, echoing sentiments from other insiders. But here’s the twist: Schefter revealed that in a “perfect world,” Hendrickson would prefer to stay in Florida, citing his residence in Ponte Vedra and the state’s lack of income tax as major draws. “I think that he would love to be in Tampa,” Schefter said, pointing to the Buccaneers as a prime landing spot.

For the 49ers, this could complicate things. San Francisco has been monitoring Hendrickson’s situation closely, viewing him as a plug-and-play complement to Bosa. However, Schefter dumped cold water on widespread buzz linking Hendrickson to other teams like the Chicago Bears, noting no strong ties there—but he didn’t rule out the Niners being in the conversation. With Hendrickson’s projected contract hovering around $30 million per year—making him one of the highest-paid edge rushers behind Crosby and Bosa—the 49ers would need to get creative with their cap space to outbid suitors like Tampa or even Dallas, where he’s also been floated as an option.

Maxx Crosby Trade Buzz: High Cost for a Game-Changer

The real bombshell came when Schefter addressed the swirling trade rumors around Las Vegas Raiders’ star Maxx Crosby, who has been the subject of intense speculation amid the Raiders’ rebuild. Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowler with 35.5 sacks over the last three seasons, requested a trade earlier this offseason, and Schefter confirmed that interest is rampant—with as many as 20 teams potentially in the mix.

“Maxx Crosby is going to get a lot of attention,” Schefter said. “It could be a situation where the compensation gets out of hand.” He pegged the baseline trade cost at “a first-round pick at minimum,” a steep price for any suitor, including the 49ers, who hold the No. 27 overall selection in the upcoming draft. San Francisco has been named as a potential landing spot, with insiders like Albert Breer suggesting a deal could happen as soon as this week. However, Schefter cautioned that teams like the Cowboys and Bears are also serious contenders, potentially driving up the price to include additional picks or players.

The 49ers’ front office, led by GM John Lynch, can’t afford to pin all hopes on Bosa’s health. Acquiring Crosby would create a fearsome tandem, but as Schefter pointed out, the Niners’ lack of a top-tier first-round pick might put them at a disadvantage in a bidding war.

Draft Alternative: Turning to the College Ranks?

If free agency or trade costs prove prohibitive, Schefter briefly touched on the draft as a viable path, aligning with recent mock drafts from experts like Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Barrows projects the Niners selecting Miami Hurricanes’ edge rusher Akheem Mesidor at No. 27, praising his 12.5 sacks and 21.2% pass-rush win rate in 2025—numbers nearly on par with teammate Rueben Bain.

“So how does a guy with numbers like that slip to No. 27? Mesidor might not have elite length—and he’ll turn 25 shortly before the draft,” Barrows noted in his February 13 mock. Schefter agreed that drafting young talent could be a cost-effective way to address the pass-rush void without breaking the bank.

As the NFC West arms race intensifies, how the 49ers tackle their pass-rush deficiencies will define their 2026 campaign. Schefter’s update underscores the high stakes: Hendrickson’s free agency market is robust but geographically influenced, while Crosby’s trade could spiral into a blockbuster deal. Whether Lynch pulls the trigger on a splash move or opts for draft development, fans in San Francisco are on edge. Stay tuned—this offseason is just heating up.