If you're Terry Fontenot, the last couple of months have been as demoralizing as it gets. New Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham has gutted the roster of any remnants of the Fontenot era, which includes getting rid of guys such as Ruke Orhorhoro, Tyler Allgeier, and even Arnold Ebiketie.
After the Falcons opted not to retain him this offseason, Ebiketie signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles--a team known for reviving the careers of failed defensive linemen. However, he wasn't much more of a rotational guy and failed to stand out on a team that's been a mess this year.
Entering the trade deadline, the Eagles were going to embark on a firesale, and believe it or not, Ebiketie was part of that sale from Howie Roseman. According to Ian Rapoport, the Eagles are sending the fifth-year pass-rusher to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
UPDATE: According to Jordan Schultz, this trade will no longer happen
So say what you want about his failed stint in Atlanta, at least he'll get a chance to play winning football for this first team in his career with a Cincinnati team that just gave the Falcons belt in Madrid.
The Atlanta Falcons have no reason to regret letting Arnold Ebiketie walk after he was traded
Instead of bringing Arnold Ebiketie back, the Dirty Birds have gotten more out of their current depth off the edge. Za'Darius Smith has looked like a man reborn, Cameron Thomas had a nice start to the season, and Samson Ebukam was quietly good before he was placed on IR with a hamstring issue.
The former second-round pick's story has been that of untapped potential. He has never had more than six sacks in a season (which he did in both 2023 and 2024), but never took a true step towards superstar status. If anything, he regressed last year though Jeff Ulbrich did the most for the defense.
Ebiketie took on an expanded role for a couple of weeks while the Eagles were without Nolan Smith and Jonathan Greenard, but has only played 48% of the defensive snaps for Philadelphia this season--where he amassed just two QB hits and 10 pressures, but also missed four tackles.
It's hard to say the Dirty Birds should regret letting Ebiketie walk, since they spent less money on a group of pass-rushers who while older, have been better. The 27-year-old went to Philly on a quest for redemption, yet even getting closer to where he played his college ball couldn't unlock him.
In Cincinnati, the Bengals could use another rotational rusher. They just placed second-round rookie Cashius Howell on IR, and he'll play behind Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, and possibly Shemar Stewart and Cedric Johnson as well--which is telling of how much this guy has fallen from grace after leaving the Falcons.
Arnold Ebiketie was one of the most disappointing draft picks of the Terry Fontenot era in Atlanta, so while I'm rooting for him to be successful, it sounds like his NFL career could soon be hanging on by a thread after both Ian Cunningham and his old boss Howie Roseman sent him packing.
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