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On September 22, the San Francisco 49ers suffered a huge blow as Nick Bosa tore his ACL, ending his season. The announcement reverberated throughout the league, with many urging the team to explore trades to make up for the loss of their elite pass rusher.
While the 49ers could look at the trade market, San Francisco could look at free agents that they could bring in and not give up any draft picks. As a result, if the front office decides to go this route, there’s one name they are urged to pursue.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton writes that former New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Carl Lawson would be an ideal target to help replace the production of Bosa.
“Instead of paying a premium to acquire a pass-rusher from another club, the 49ers can consider signing Carl Lawson, who’s also played under Saleh in New York,” Moton wrote.
“In 2022, with the Jets, Lawson registered 26 pressures and seven sacks in one of his most productive campaigns. Last year, in a rotational role with the Dallas Cowboys, he recorded 19 pressures and five sacks.
“The 30-year-old pass-rusher may have more left in the tank to rush the passer. He could tag-team with [Bryce] Huff to absorb Bosa’s snaps on the edge.”
Would the 49ers Make a Trade to Replace Nick Bosa?
If the 49ers opt to pursue a trade, one of the top names circulating in the rumor mill is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson, who earned All-Pro honors last season, also led the NFL with 17.5 sacks.
Adding to the intrigue, the Bengals appear likely to be without starting quarterback Joe Burrow for roughly three months. That situation makes it difficult to see Cincinnati thriving during that stretch with Burrow out, potentially opening the door for Hendrickson to be traded—if the asking price aligns.
Still, Matt Barrows of The Athletic doesn’t expect San Francisco to trade for Hendrickson, citing the path the front office chose in constructing the roster for the 2025 season.
“Trey Hendrickson is an older, expensive player who turns 31 in December,” Barrows said during an appearance on 95.7 The Game . “[Trading for him] would run counter to everything the 49ers mapped out [for the season] back in January and February…but situations change.”
Can the 49ers Replace Nick Bosa?
After news broke that Nick Bosa’s 2025 season is over, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out that although the 49ers have some depth along the defensive line, none of the replacements can match the influence of the 27-year-old standout.
“I’d say one of the unanticipated bright spots has been the 49ers’ defense this season with Robert Saleh coming back,” Orlovsky said on the September 22 edition of “NFL Live.” “They’ve got depth with Mykel Williams, their first-round draft pick, and Bryce Huff, who they acquired from the Eagles—good players, but they’re not Nick.
“Right now, this defense is giving up just 16 points a game, third in the NFL, and about 160 yards passing per game, which is top five. This was a group that was ascending, and it’s one of the reasons the 49ers are 3-0 and in first place. This is an enormous loss for this football team.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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