Packers Tried to Trade for Another Star Pass Rusher Before Micah Parsons: Insider
The Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2025 campaign with a highly anticipated matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, and the vibes surrounding the team are quite high. After picking up Micah Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys right before the start of the season, the Packers are believed to be one of the top Super Bowl contenders across the league.
There’s no doubt that the addition of Parsons will take Green Bay’s defense to another level this year, even as he battles a back injury that will reportedly limit his impact in the team’s season-opener on Sunday. According to a recent report, though, Parsons may not have been the Packers’ initial trade target, as the team also made a push for Cincinnati Bengals superstar defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Packers Pursued Trey Hendrickson Trade Before Landing Micah Parsons
Over the offseason, both Parsons and Hendrickson made it clear they were looking for contract extensions from the Cowboys and Bengals, respectively. It took a while, but both guys eventually got what they wanted. Cincinnati restructured Hendrickson’s deal to give him a $14 million raise for the 2025 season, while Parsons put pen to paper on a four-year, $186 million contract after landing with the Packers.
While Hendrickson stayed put and Parsons got traded, for much of the offseason, it appeared that Hendrickson was more likely to get traded than Parsons. After handing star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins new contracts earlier this offseason, the Bengals did not have much cap space at their disposal. Plus, the Cowboys seemed to be making progress with Parsons on a new deal for much of the offseason.
Instead, Dallas opted to grant Parsons his trade request, with the Packers happily sending a pair of first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark the other way. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, though, Green Bay initially pursued a trade for Hendrickson before landing Parsons.
“The Packers first set their sights on a trade for Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, sources say, before they pulled off the blockbuster trade of the offseason when they acquired star Micah Parsons from the Cowboys,” Rapoport reported. “The Packers are among the teams that called and engaged the most with Cincinnati on a potential trade for Hendrickson this offseason, with an initial offer made for last season’s sack leader.”
Should the Packers Have Traded for Trey Hendrickson Instead of Micah Parsons?
GettyGreen Bay Packers edge rusher, Micah Parsons
Hendrickson has racked up 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons, making him one of the most productive players at his position in the league. When considering Parsons’ production (52.5 sacks in his first four pro seasons) and the fact that he is only 26 years old, it’s clear he’s a much more desirable player than Hendrickson, who will turn 31 in December.
Both guys are great, but there’s no doubt that the Packers are thrilled to have Parsons on board and locked up for the long-term future. While Parsons is questionable for Green Bay’s Week 1 opener due to his aforementioned back injury, he’s expected to play, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make an immediate impact for his new squad right out of the gate.
McDavid & Top 5 Stories Going Into the 2025-2026 NHL Season
There are some big storylines worth watching this coming season. Connor McDavid‘s situation is getting the most attention, but the Olympics, a comeback story, and Mitch Marner‘s move to Vegas will be closely watched narratives as 2025-26 unfolds.
The Biggest Story: Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid still does not have a contract heading into his UFA year. This is significant for the NHL—and more specifically, the Edmonton Oilers—because, at this point, based on all insider information, it’s not a question of money, but a question of how good this team is and what the future holds for the Oilers.
They’ve made back-to-back Finals appearances but fell short both times. If they fall short again, will Connor stay? Or will he become the highest-paid free agent signing ever, most likely in NHL history?
Most believe McDavid will re-sign before the season, or at least early into it. The delays, however, have created pause around the NHL and Elliotte Friedman recently hinted teams might try to clear the decks in the event McDavid finishes out the season without a new deal.
The Gavin McKenna Sweepstakes
Another storyline going into next season will be which teams are most likely to tank for the chance at the potential first overall pick. That pick is Gavin McKenna, who recently committed to Penn State—and also the cousin of recent first overall pick Connor Bedard.
Many teams like Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Nashville, and Pittsburgh should all be in the mix for the superstar center, who registered 41 goals, 88 assists, and 129 points with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL.
Vegas Golden Knights and Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner surprised no one when he jumped to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Toronto Maple Leafs. What will be intriguing to watch now is how he transitions and plays after all the drama surrounding his departure.
The dynamic 100-point scorer needs to have a big season after a sign-and-trade deal that is still being talked about by Toronto fans and media. It’s a different spotlight and he’ll have to adapt to a new system under head coach Bruce Cassidy. Are his new linemates in Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev better than where he’s coming from?
Olympic Year Means Choosing Olympic Rosters
How the 2026 Olympics play into this coming season will be intriguing to watch. That means lots of roster construction talks—discussions about which players will make it and who will not.
Even right now, the conversation has already started with Habs star rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who wasn’t invited to Team USA’s summer camp this offseason. Another consideration is the question of who will be healthy when the Olympics arrive in February 2026. Who will be healthy and available when the rosters are finalized?
The Return of a 2010s Icon
If you watched hockey in the 2010s, one player who was very popular and dynamic was the elite two-way forward and captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews . After the 2020 season, he suffered from a severe case of long COVID, which forced him to step away from the Blackhawks—and hockey as a whole. Now, having signed a one-year deal with his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets, it’s just an overall feel-good story.
This is not just a story of how well he plays after so much time off and a scary health diagnosis. This is the return of an icon from the 2010s era of the NHL—coming back for one more dance with his hometown team.
