There has been a lot of chatter this offseason about the Patriots potentially getting involved in a big-time trade or two to put their roster over the top. That has inevitably connected them to some of the top names looking for new contracts, including pass rushers Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons, as well as wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Based on their needs, it would make sense for any of those stars to be on Mike Vrabel's radar, as the Patriots have the money to accommodate their current contracts and their futures. But the more time passes by, the less likely it appears any of them will be on the move. That has already been made apparent with McLaurin, as the latest reports suggest a contract is in the works, and there might be too many hoops to jump through for Parsons.
However, the Patriots just got the news they might have been waiting for with Hendrickson, as NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported the Bengals are now listening to trade offers for the four-time Pro Bowler.
With contract talks at an impasse, the #Bengals are listening to trade offers for perennial Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, per me & @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2025
It’s unclear if the NFL sack leader will be playing elsewhere in 2025, and a trade will be a real challenge. But time will tell. pic.twitter.com/WaFX601ew2
Although the new regime in Foxboro has made it clear they want to build a young team, primarily through the draft, there's no reason for them not to, at the very least, inquire about what Cincinnati might want for the 30-year-old.
The Patriots might have their chance at getting a star pass rusher on the team before the 2025 season
The Bengals have been on a roll in recent years with how they've mishandled contract negotiations with some of their star players. That was the highlight of their 2024 offseason regarding wide receiver Tee Higgins, who requested to be traded several times before he was eventually given the extension he had been longing for.
They apparently didn't learn their lesson in getting deals done sooner rather than later, as now Hendrickson is holding out and willing to miss the upcoming season if not awarded for his production properly. Considering he has become the focus of their defense, racking up 35 sacks over the last two seasons, it's understandable why he would want to be compensated fairly.
If the Bengals are unwilling to do that, the Patriots could get in the mix fairly easily. Although Cincy might have a high demand in a trade, like wanting a first-round pick for Hendrickson, the Patriots could realistically offer one of the better deals across the league, as they could throw in a high second-rounder.
Because they are still projected to land in the top-15 picks of next year's draft, it's unlikely they'd be willing to part with a pick of that value for an older player. But a high second-round selection doesn't seem out of the question and might be the Bengals' best offer.
A lot of it will depend on what the Patriots are willing to part with for an aging player who hasn't shown any signs of slowing down but doesn't fit the mold of what they're trying to build under Vrabel. On top of that, it's unclear if the Bengals are serious about trading their superstar defender, as this could just be their latest tactic in the ongoing saga.
Regardless, New England should inquire and seriously consider a trade now that they know they have the opportunity to do so.