The Cincinnati Bengals flopped in front of the world at the NFL trade deadline.
After initially agreeing to trade for Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, the Bengals backed out of the deal.
Long story short, the Bengals were apparently caught unaware that the deal would cost them a third-round compensatory draft pick.
After this very public misstep, the Bengals didn’t make a move at the trade deadline at all.
The reactions are pretty telling.
Bengals’ NFL trade deadline reactions
The AFC’s top six teams heading into the deadline & their additions:
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) November 10, 2026
Bills - S Amani Hooker
Broncos - LB Daiyan Henley
Jaguars - DT Jordan Davis, S Jessie Bates & DT Davon Godchaux
Steelers - None
Chiefs - WR Josh Downs
Bengals - None
A conservative Tuesday in Cincinnati
If I'm following this right?
1. Bengals agree to a trade 2. Had no idea it would've cost them a Round 3 compensatory pick 3. Realize it through Twitter 4. Back out of trade The Bengals are an $8 billion business. Just hire the spreadsheet virgins Howie has. https://t.co/RsJfUf71dM
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 10, 2026
The ghosts of mishandling trey hendrickson sacked the bengals at the trade deadline. just ridiculous
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) November 10, 2026
Whether Bengals are capable of winning it all is not at issue. They are.
— David M Potteiger (@David_Potteiger) November 10, 2026
At issue is the fact that CIN had an opportunity to increase the probability of winning it all and failed to act.
I anxiously await the #Bengals changing the schedule and making Duke Tobin available, prior to Zac's weekly 1pm Wednesday news conference. Duke can explain what happened. Because surely the organization would not send Zac to the podium to have to do that on his own. pic.twitter.com/9ZLvtgjqg1
— LanceMcAlister (@LanceMcAlister) November 10, 2026
Duke Tobin’s brain during a trade deadline where the Bengals are 6-2 in a wide open AFC with the MVP favorite and best WR duo in the league. pic.twitter.com/yUWLayu6V2
— 🐅 (@OpoyChase) November 10, 2026
Talked to a couple of teams re: Bengals' compensatory pick snafu. They have software that updates them on CFAs inre: playing time and transactions, so they can test how a hypothetical move would impact their picks
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 10, 2026
Do the Bengals not have that? Or just an error in their system?
Electric trade deadline! The Bengals tried to trade for a backup Eagles EDGE and found out from Twitter it actually didn't make sense so they said nevermind! What a day!
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 10, 2026
Nonzero chance that the failed trade earlier today scared them off of making a trade today because they still don't know how the comp pick formula works
— mike (@bengals_sans) November 10, 2026
BENGALS TRADE DEADLINE STATS:
— 🐅 (@OpoyChase) November 10, 2026
- Zero moves made 🔥🔥🔥
- 64 hours asleep 💤 💤💤
- 87 phone calls made 📞📞📞
- 1 almost trade 🤯🤯🤯
- Forgot the comp pick formula 😂😂😂
- successfully pissed off the Eagles 🥶🥶
“We like our guys” 😤😤😤😤
You’re using the Bengals’ front office blunder to embarrass them.
— Seth Reese † (@SethR94) November 10, 2026
I’m using the Bengals’ front office blunder as even more evidence Joe Burrow deserves MVP.
We are not the same.
It’s honestly disappointing to see teams go all in
— Drake Burton (@bengalsdrake) November 10, 2026
Where as the Bengals are ALWAYS thinking 5 years down the line. While it’s strategic, Joe Burrow will be half way to 40 by then.
GO WIN NOW AND STOP CHEAPING OUT EVERY CHANCE YOU GET
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' trade deadline embarrassment becomes national punchline
