The Cincinnati Bengals backed out of an agreed-upon trade with the Philadelphia Eagles at the deadline because the underlying cost would have been higher than initially anticipated.

Teams around the NFL are looking to make moves at the deadline, with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking big swings as they harbor championship aspirations in 2026. On the flip side, teams like the New York Jets could be tempted into following the Indianapolis Colts’ lead and flip players with their season all but over.

The Bengals’ high-flying offense, led by Joe Burrow, is strong enough to push the franchise into the Super Bowl conversation, but the defense might need some solidity. With the trade deadline in its final few hours, the Bengals - fresh off an epic win over the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid - decided to make a move.

Cincinnati agreed to send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Eagles for edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. The move was deemed shrewd; the Bengals boast the league's best passing offense, but they were adding support for a defense that has been seen as the team's biggest weakness.

Ebiketie has 25 total tackles this season and played 48 percent of the snaps for the Eagles, while also being deployed on special teams.

On top of this, the Eagles have already paid half of Ebiketie's base salary and all of the $3 million signing bonus when he landed in free agency, leaving the Bengals on the hook to pay the remaining $650,000.

However, just an hour after the trade was agreed, the deal was dead. The Bengals backed out of the deal after realizing that they would have lost the 2027 third-round compensatory pick they received after edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson signed with the Baltimore Ravens back in the offseason.

The Bengals would have effectively been giving a third- and sixth-round pick for half a season of a player with zero sacks and two quarterback hits through nine games this year. As a result, they pulled the plug.

Ebiketie signed with the Eagles in free agency after playing four seasons for the Atlanta Falcons. He has featured in 76 games over five NFL seasons.

Ebiketie would have joined defensive tackle Jordan Davis as the second player the Eagles have traded before the NFL’s trade deadline. He was sent to the Jaguars for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick in a major NFL bombshell.

The Jags also added defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints for a sixth-round pick, and Jessie Bates from the Falcons for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

The NFL trade deadline closes at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10.