The NFL trade deadline on Tuesday brought six deals, but it was the one that *didn’t* happen with the Bengals that’s got everyone talking. Cincinnati nearly sent a sixth-round pick to the Eagles for edge defender Arnold Ebiketie, a move that seemed pretty basic on the surface. But this “basic” deal would have actually cost them their compensatory 2027 third-round pick, a detail it seems they missed until the last second. Seriously, a third-rounder!
The Costly Miscalculation
The plan was for Ebiketie to slide right into the Bengals’ pass-rush rotation, especially with Cashius Howell sidelined with a wrist injury. That sounds like a solid depth move, right? Except the Bengals, for whatever reason, didn’t seem to grasp that trading for Ebiketie would mean forfeiting that valuable 2027 third-round compensatory pick they’re owed for losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Yikes. Nick Korte from OverTheCap was the one who first flagged this potential disaster. Turns out, because the Eagles signed Ebiketie as a compensatory free agent this offseason, his status carries over if he gets traded mid-season, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Bengals might have thought Cordell Volson’s departure counted, but since he hasn’t played this year, his situation is moot in the comp pick math. This isn’t just a minor oversight, it’s a huge swing for a team looking to stay competitive for years. Good thing they caught it before the ink dried!
Taylor Steps Up, Takes Responsibility
On Wednesday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor had to face the music and address the near-trade. He sounded pretty clear about the team’s depth at edge, but then dropped a line about how director of personnel Duke Tobin was “very explicit” about how he wanted this portrayed. Taylor admitted he wasn’t “comfortable doing it,” but he was going to do what Tobin asked. He straight up said, “As we got into it, obviously it was going to be a little more costly than we initially anticipated.” Taylor also made sure to stress that Philly was a “great trade partner” and that the mix-up was “on our” end. He backed his front office hard, saying they’ve given them the players to be 6-2 right now and playing at a “high level.” You gotta respect a coach who takes the hit and moves on. Taylor confirmed the failed trade didn’t even mess with his Tuesday prep, outside of that quick chat with Tobin.
So, the Bengals ended up making no in-season trades this year, but they did dodge a bullet that could have hurt their future. They are sitting pretty at 6-2, tied with the Steelers for the AFC North lead. Next up is a crucial Week 10 “Sunday Night Football” matchup against those very same Steelers. That game is gonna be epic, and at least now we know the Bengals won’t be heading into it with a major future draft pick hanging over their heads because of a trade that almost happened.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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