Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Cincinnati Bengals radio helmets are prepared before the first quarter of the NFL International Week 9 game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) during training camp at Jefferson Health Training Complex
Sitting at 6-2 with one of the best offenses in the league, the Cincinnati Bengals may very well be Super Bowl contenders. But if they hope to win it, or even get there, they’ll need to improve their defense. In particular, the pass rush.
The Bengals attempted to do just that on Tuesday prior to the NFL trade deadline, seemingly acquiring defensive end Arnold Ebiketie from the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round pick.
Ebiketie, a five-year veteran who is in his first season in Philadelphia, does not have a sack yet this season, but he does have five hurries and four QB knockdowns.
Ultimately, however, Cincinnati backed out of the deal at the last second when they learned, thanks to NFL Twitter user Nick Korte, that the trade would have cost them much more than just a sixth-round pick.
The Bengals are now planning to back out of the trade, source says. And this tweet is likely why. Deal was never finalized.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) November 10, 2026
NFL Twitter User Saves Cincinnati Bengals From Losing Third-Round Pick In Trade
In the offseason, the Bengals lost three compensatory free agents and lost two, including four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who signed a four-year, $112 million contract with the rival Baltimore Ravens.
As a result of the Hendrickson signing, Cincinnati netted a compensatory third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. However, Ebiketie signed in Philadelphia also as a compensatory free agent.
By acquiring him, the Bengals would have had to forfeit their compensatory third-round pick they were set to receive for Hendrickson.
According to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, Cincinnati was unaware of this condition and only learned of it after initially agreeing to the trade for Ebiketie.
Once the comp pick issue was raised it was clear the Bengals would try to extricate themselves. Bengals don’t deal a lot in comp picks and clearly didn’t know all the rules before this would-be trade.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) November 10, 2026
Acquiring a rotational pass rusher for a sixth-round pick is one thing. Acquiring him for what was essentially a sixth and a third-round pick would have been far too much to give up.
The Bengals owe @nickkorte an all expenses paid trip https://t.co/5Z99BJ6Xry
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) November 10, 2026
Ultimately, Korte’s tweet seems to have saved the Bengals from an absolutely disastrous trade, and they owe him big time.