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

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.