The San Francisco 49ers were dealt a significant blow on September 22 when it was reported that Nick Bosa tore his ACL, sidelining him for the rest of the season. As a result, many are quickly calling for the team to explore a trade to help fill the void left by their star pass rusher.
Nonetheless, the question is whether the 49ers want to give up the draft capital needed to trade for an impactful player to help the defense get to the quarterback. Well, 49ers general manager John Lynch answered that question on September 25.
During an appearance on KNBR, Lynch spoke about the possibility of making a trade before the NFL’s trade deadline on November 4.
“My heart just goes out to him,” Lynch said. “He puts so much into this. This is his life… It’s a crushing blow to our team, but that’s what this sport is. One player won’t make up for Nick Bosa, we’ll have to do it collectively…
“Of course we’re always looking. That’s our job… we’re not afraid and we’ve been effective in doing that. This is no different. I do think we’re a deep group there, and that depth’s going to be tested. We’ll see what’s out there at the appropriate time.”
Who Could the 49ers Target in a Trade?
The name drawing the most buzz right now is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. He’s coming off a season where he earned All-Pro honors and led the NFL with 17.5 sacks.
At the same time, the Bengals are enduring life without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who is expected to miss around three months.
With Burrow sidelined, it’s tough to see Cincinnati getting through this stretch smoothly—opening the door for Hendrickson to become available if the right offer comes along.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic doesn’t expect San Francisco to pursue a trade for Hendrickson, noting it wouldn’t align with the approach the front office chose in shaping 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.”
49ers Will Need Others to Elevate Their Game
As Lynch pointed out, replacing Bosa was always going to take a team effort, with the younger players asked to raise their level. With Bosa out, the 49ers’ defense needed others to step up and fill the void — and they did just that in Week 3.
Following the hard-fought September 21 win over NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals, veteran linebacker Fred Warner praised the young players who delivered when the team needed them most.
“I think it speaks to the work that they’ve all put in and their maturity, “ Warner said postgame (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area & California). “I’ve got to give it to them and the way that they’ve prepared, which has allowed them to come in and be ready for their moments.
“They don’t play like rookies. They’re coming in week in and week out, making these big-time plays, and we’re going to need them to continue to do so.”