Should the 49ers Trade for Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson?

It's a fantastic dream for the 49ers to trade for Hendrickson. However, it needs to remain a dream. It's not a reality that can come to fruition, nor should the 49ers try to.

The Bengals are reportedly asking for a 2026 first-round pick and a young defensive player for Hendrickson, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

While the asking price isn't outrageous, it does become that way when you consider the contract extension needed to give to Hendrickson. It's the whole reason he's on the trade block.

The Bengals aren't going to give him one, so Hendrickson wants out. If the 49ers want him, they'd have to give up one of their rookie or second-year players along with a 2026 first-rounder.

Then, they are looking at giving up a nice chunk of their salary cap space and a haul of cash to lock him in. Trading for Hendrickson only makes sense if a team is going to extend him.

The 49ers aren't going to do that. Their cash spending has been maxed out already, which is why they aren't extending Jauan Jennings. The time to do that was in May.

Resources aside, acquiring Hendrickson would also blow up the trade for Bryce Huff and drafting Mykel Williams. It's not too difficult to make Williams fit.

He can still kick inside on passing downs, and maybe the 49ers will use Williams on early downs instead of Hendrickson. But that's too much shuffling.

Another reason to avoid trading for Hendrickson is that he's 30 years old. He will turn 31 in December. He doesn't have a lot of time left playing at an elite level.

Acquiring him goes against the youth movement the 49ers are going with on defense. It would undo everything they've done towards building a new cornerstone.

Hendrickson is a great dream to have for the 49ers, and nothing more.

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