Why the 49ers could be a destination no one is talking about for a premier Pro Bowler who is actively in trade conversations
They could be in the running.
The 49ers, at least from a national standpoint, underwent a quiet transformation on defense this offseason.
That has created a lot of questions regarding what the defense will look like, even under the returning coordination of Robert Saleh.
Well, there is one name on the block who could bring the 49ers closer to their dominant ways on the defensive side of the football…
Could Trey Hendrickson be an option for the 49ers?
Proposed swap: Cincinnati trades Trey Hendrickson for DE Bryce Huff and a 2026 second-round pick
The 49ers and Trey Hendrickson might not make a ton of sense at first glance, but when you dive into the makings of their defense, you can start to piece the puzzle together.
For one, the defense has one proven pass rusher: Nick Bosa. I know Mykel Williams is a stud. But he’s a rookie. And behind those two are a lot of guys. The last time we saw Robert Saleh coordinate the 49ers defense, they were deep and dynamic at EDGE. Right now, they aren’t. Oh, and they lost two significant contributors in their back seven via Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. Meaning, their pass rush is going to have to carry them. Bolstering it with Trey Hendrickson makes a ton of sense for San Francisco, but what about the Bengals?
Well, you send Trey to the other conference and in return, you receive a 2026 second-round pick and Bryce Huff.
Sounds like a deal that makes everyone happy to me.
What about the finances? Well, the 49ers have the third-most-effective cap space in the NFL. Meaning they could easily inflate Hendrickson’s APY, and deal the rest of the contract down the road.
More importantly, they get back to what they do best: rushing the passer with multiple bodies. Sure, you give up Bryce Huff, but you now have a trio of Hedrickson, Bosa, and first-rounder Mykel Williams in this proposal.
With a lot of questions in the back seven of the defense and the WR corps, ensuring you can get off the field on third down and get the ball back to Christian McCaffrey seems like the recipe for success in the Bay this year.
That recipe doesn’t work nearly as well without Trey Hendrickson.
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