# The critical mistake Bengals made before controversially backing out of Eagles trade

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-critical-mistake-bengals-made-before-controversially-backing-out-of-eagles-trade/
- Published: 2026-11-14T19:11:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T20:25:26+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/14/sports/inside-the-bengals-blunder-in-botched-eagles-trade/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Cincinnati withdrew from an agreed trade for Arnold Ebiketie.
- The deal could have cost the Bengals a projected third-round compensatory pick.
- A player’s free-agent status and playing time affected the calculation.

## Summary

Cincinnati Bengals agreed to acquire edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie from the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round pick, then withdrew after learning the move could cost them a projected third-round compensatory pick. The episode matters because it shows how a trade can affect future draft compensation as well as the picks exchanged directly.

Ebiketie had 25 tackles, three pressures and two quarterback hits in nine games. NFL rules count a compensatory free agent acquired in a trade as a player gained in the compensatory-pick calculation; the Bengals may have thought guard Cordell Volson would offset that, but he played no snaps this season and did not count as a loss. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin apologised to the Eagles after agreeing to the deal before checking the formula with the NFL. Cincinnati is also due a correction to earlier compensation for losing Jessie Bates III, upgraded from two sixth-round picks to a third and a sixth.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.