Bengals’ botched Arnold Ebiketie deal turns into embarrassing NFL trade deadline failure while several AFC contenders capitalize
The Cincinnati Bengals entered the NFL trade deadline at 6-2 with a defense that needed one more piece. Four AFC contenders went shopping for exactly that, and the Bengals’ own pursuit took an awful turn.
The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Cincinnati Bengals have nothing to show for it.
Cincinnati had agreed in principle to send its 2027 sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. The Bengals then backed out upon realizing the deal would cancel out the third-round compensatory pick they hope to receive in March for letting Trey Hendrickson walk in free agency.
Backing out of the trade kept Cincinnati’s expected draft picks intact. It also killed the Bengals’ only real attempt to improve before the second half of the season, because a follow-up move never materialized.
Bengals blow an ideal opportunity to buy at the trade deadline
Cincinnati is 6-2 and can take the lead in the AFC North this week with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL. Their defense feels like it’s one or two pieces away from being complete.
That’s exactly the profile of a team that should be adding at the deadline. Instead, Cincy came away empty-handed. The only move the Bengals came close to making would have been an indictment on their own ignorance, which makes the whole episode even more embarrassing.
Four of the last five Super Bowl winners made additions at the deadline with the exception of the 2024 Eagles. Cincinnati had many chances to bolster its roster, and seemingly stopped after throwing the Ebiketie transaction in the dumpster.
It’s an utter failure no matter how you slice it.
AFC contenders added where Cincinnati needed help
To make matters worse, four AFC contenders made additions to their rosters. Three made upgrades on the defensive side of the ball, bringing in talent at the exact areas where the Bengals were looking to add.
The Jacksonville Jaguars went completely all in, bringing in three new players highlighted by former Bengals safety Jessie Bates III.
The Buffalo Bills added former Tennessee Titans S Amani Hooker. Hooker is just a couple weeks removed from intercepting Joe Burrow three times.
The Denver Broncos got in on the action late, trading for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley.
The Kansas City Chiefs ended up with the offensive addition, trading for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs.
All four clubs, three of whom are the leaders of their respective divisions, saw an opening and took it. Cincinnati sat on its hands. The Bengals have nothing to show for the deadline other than recouping a compensatory pick that isn’t even locked in yet.
Bengals have impossible messaging task in store for them
The worst part of this is the message it sends. The Bengals can’t say with a straight face that they like their defense the way it is. They were on the doorstep of adding a quality player in Ebiketie. That near-miss should have amplified the aggression to get something else done. It just never happened.
Instead, coach Zac Taylor will be thrown to the wolves Wednesday afternoon to answer for incompetence that wasn’t even his fault.
This was the perfect trade deadline to make a move. The Bengals are positioned to go very far, and one more addition could have helped put them over the top.
It’s hard not to feel like Cincinnati tucked its tail between its legs and cowered after being made a fool of.
