There is something about the back end of the Cincinnati Bengals roster that intrigues the New England Patriots, as the defending Super Bowl champions have once again gone to the Queen City to find a player.

The Enquirer learned through multiple league sources that the Bengals sent reserve linebacker Marquis Flowers to the Patriots for a seventh-round pick. The Bengals made the trade official at about 10:15 a.m.

"Well, we saw (the trade) based (on who) we feel is going to be the guys that we keep here and if there is going to be an opportunity somewhere else, I think that's a good thing for the player," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "Obviously, the Patriots felt that he may not get to them through the waiver chances so they traded something significant for him."

Flowers, 25, was a sixth-round pick of the Bengals in 2014 out of Arizona. He played in 16 games and made one start in his rookie year, but missed all of 2015 with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason.

Last year, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 245-pound linebacker returned to also play in all 16 games, mostly on special teams.

That could be a role Flowers fills in New England.

On a conference call with Cincinnati media in 2016 previewing a Week 6 contest in Foxboro, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick noted Flowers by name in his review of Darrin Simmons’ special teams unit.

“They have a good group of core players as well. Certainly (Vinny) Rey is one of the top linebackers in the league," Belichick said. "They have a good group there with Flowers and (Clayton) Fejedelem.”

He was a bubble player this year, but a spot seemed to have opened up with the looming five-game suspension for starter Vontaze Burfict.

Here's why Bengals' LB Vontaze Burfict was suspended 5 games

Now, it looks like there is room for undrafted free agent Hardy Nickerson.

As for the Patriots, Flowers becomes the third Bengal in two years to find his way to Foxboro. Running back Rex Burkhead signed there as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. In November, the Patriots signed tight end Matt Lengel off the Bengals' practice squad.

Patriots fullback James Develin, who was re-signed to a 2-year, $2.85 million deal this March, spent the 2011 season the Bengals practice squad.