The mid-season trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a tough spot. They are undefeated but limping with an injury-filled roster. The recent injury blow to Nick Bosa has shaken the defensive line to its core. The team’s dominant defensive end and a five-time Pro Bowler is out for the season with a torn ACL.

Losing Bosa means San Francisco can no longer rely on its star pass-rusher’s game-changing presence. The Niners will have to decide quickly: stick to their youth-driven rebuild or go all-in acquiring a veteran edge rusher to fill the glaring void. If they go with the latter, there’s a realistic possibility of acquiring Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hendrickson has been a force of nature over the past two seasons. He racked up 35 sacks from 2023 to 24, far outpacing Bosa’s 19.5 in that span. He even led the league in sacks in 2024 with 17.5 sacks. Despite struggling contract talks with the Bengals and his impending free agency in March, Hendrickson’s veteran savvy and production make him a tantalizing target for the 49ers.

Under General Manager John Lynch’s tenure, the 49ers have a history of mid-season trades for proven players, including Christian McCaffrey and several defensive ends. Hendrickson fits the mold perfectly: a veteran who brings reliability without hefty rookie risks or unknowns. His acquisition would ease the pressure off San Francisco’s young, inexperienced defensive line fighters, who suddenly have to fill Bosa’s huge void.

Lynch’s recent comments on KNBR captured this balancing act well. “Of course, we’re always looking. Prior to Nick getting hurt — that’s our job, is to look at the market and see who might become available,” Lynch said. “But right now, we’re going to rely on the guys we have, and we believe in our group.”

His openness signals the 49ers are seriously exploring outside options to stop the bleeding. Given the Bengals’ struggles without Joe Burrow and their inability to lock down Hendrickson long term, a trade seems not just feasible but smart for a team chasing the championship. But these trades are never that simple, right?

Why getting Trey Hendrickson won’t come cheap

The Bengals understand Hendrickson’s value, and at 2-1, they’re off to a better start than expected. Trading their star edge rusher now is far from guaranteed. Cincinnati’s front office could demand a steep price, likely at least a second-round pick.

The 49ers could propose a trade package like this: a 2026 first-round pick and third rounder, plus a 2027 second rounder. But with some clever conditions — say, Trey Hendrickson playing 60% or more of their remaining defensive snaps, the team making the playoffs, and Hendrickson re-signing — San Francisco could chip away at their cost.

If he plays the snaps and they make the playoffs. But he doesn’t re-sign, the price might drop to just a first rounder. And if things fall apart, the picks could downgrade further to a second rounder only. It’s a smart, risk-controlled approach, hedging the bet on a splash move.

Still, it’s a heavy draft capital outlay. San Francisco’s precise offseason plan complicates things further. The 49ers chose to purge many 30-something veterans, focusing on building a young core. Hendrickson, turning 31 in December, doesn’t fit neatly into that blueprint.

He might also want a contract restructure, which would collide with the 49ers’ financial strategy. This kind of mid-season upheaval messes with team chemistry and long-term planning. The narrative that San Francisco wants to reset its roster towards youth hints that they might hesitate, even if Hendrickson’s numbers scream game-changer.