Arnold Ebiketie Traded from Eagles to Bengals for 2027 Sixth-Round Pick

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia, which cited a league source. The deal was agreed on Tuesday morning, the day of the NFL trade deadline, and ESPN also reported the trade. Ebiketie's move is one of several deals Eagles executive Howie Roseman made before the deadline, following the trade of Jordan Davis.

Ebiketie's role in Philadelphia

Ebiketie, 27, signed a one-year contract with the Eagles during free agency in March. Bleeding Green Nation reported that the deal carried $4.3 million guaranteed. He has played in all nine games this season and has logged 300 snaps, or 48 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

Ebiketie has 25 tackles and two quarterback hits this season but no sacks. He was also weaker against the run, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. He ranks third among Eagles edge rushers in snaps, behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.

Why the Eagles made the move

Ebiketie was used mostly as a rotational player while Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith dealt with injuries. With Greenard now healthier, Philadelphia has more depth at the position, and Bleeding Green Nation described Ebiketie as unlikely to return after the 2026 season.

The pick gives the Eagles an additional selection in the 2027 draft. NBC Sports Philadelphia said the team is now projected to hold 10 picks in that draft, including a sixth-round pick from Cincinnati. Before this trade, Philadelphia did not have a sixth-round pick in 2027.

Rotation and what comes next

For the rest of the 2026 season, the Eagles' edge group is expected to include Smith, Hunt, Greenard, A.J. Epenesa and rookie Keyshawn James-Newby, who has been on the practice squad. NBC Sports Philadelphia said James-Newby could get more opportunities to develop. Ebiketie's departure also opens a roster spot that could be used to promote James-Newby or Mason Reiger from the practice squad, Bleeding Green Nation reported.

The trade has not been officially announced by either team in the reports available to us, and neither the Eagles nor the Bengals have publicly detailed the terms beyond the pick. Ebiketie will now join a Bengals roster that has not yet been described in detail in the reports.

What we know so far: The Eagles have traded Arnold Ebiketie to Cincinnati for a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move came on the NFL trade deadline day, and it leaves Philadelphia's edge rotation focused on younger players and healthier veterans for the rest of the season.