The NFL trade deadline is hours away, but there's already been some excitement with the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles agreeing to a deal before abruptly backing out. Multiple reports had the Eagles trading edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to Cincy in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The pass rusher signed a one-year contract in the spring but had yet to record a sack, and with their playoff hopes dimming the Eagles seemed prepared to ship him off. That's until Over The Cap's Nick Korte observed that trading for Ebiketie would cost the Bengals a compensatory third-round pick in the 2027 draft, at which point the deal was called off. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Cincinnati reached the same conclusion and backed
out to protect that draft pick.
But the New Orleans Saints don't have any comp picks to jeopardize, and if all the Eagles want is a sixth rounder, they should take a swing at acquiring Ebiketie. Here's what we wrote on him back in March: "The 27-year old former second-round pick has been buried in Atlanta's rotation, and while he only had two sacks last year he did produce five tackles for loss and 25 quarterback pressures. His Pro Football Focus pass rush productivity rating (7.8) was third-highest on the team and better than every Saints edge rusher but Chase Young (11.4). There's untapped potential here."
Since signing with Philly, Ebiketie has notched a Pro Football Focus win rate of 8.5 as the third rusher in Philadelphia's rotation, better than Cameron Jordan (5.0) and comparable to Tyree Wilson (8.9). Part of it is due to volume, but he also has twice as many quarterback pressures (10) as Wilson (5). Jordan has finally lost his battle with Father Time, and the team isn't getting much from Wilson or their other backup edge rusher Anfernee Jennings (PFF win rate of 5.4, three pressures), who is better known for his work stopping the run. Maybe Ebiketie would be a better fit.
Beyond the draft capital involved (the Saints own three sixth rounders in the next two years after trading Davon Godchaux to the Jacksonville Jaguars), Ebiketie would be affordable under the salary cap. The Saints would only owe him about $650,000 for the rest of the season with another $1.2 million left behind in dead money if he doesn't sign an extension in 2027. That's chump change. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are two parts of what could be a great pass rush unit. Upgrading that third slot would make a difference, and given how little it could cost, the Saints would be wise to pursue it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints could benefit from Bengals' bungled trade with Eagles
