Germaine Pratt sends the Bengals a clear message, but it was likely the Bengals who sent him one first
As the Cincinnati Bengals prepare to improve their roster in a month's time, tough decisions will have to be made to make room for new additions. This will involve releasing notable veterans to clear not only salary cap space, but room on the depth chart for new starters. The writing is on the wall for […]
As the Cincinnati Bengals prepare to improve their roster in a month's time, tough decisions will have to be made to make room for new additions. This will involve releasing notable veterans to clear not only salary cap space, but room on the depth chart for new starters.
The writing is on the wall for several Bengals players, including linebacker Germaine Pratt, who is now requesting a trade from the team per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
Pratt has been with the Bengals since he was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the first defensive player drafted by Zac Taylor and former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who's now the DC for the Indianapolis Colts. He's been a starter since 2020 and has kept that role thanks to making several iconic plays in team history, including the game-winning interception that sealed the franchise's first postseason win in 31 years.
That was three years ago. Pratt has gotten older, and his play hasn't aged particularly well. His best season was in 2022 when Pro Football Focus graded him out at 78.4 in what was a contract year. Since signing a three-year deal in the 2023 offseason, he has increasingly missed more tackles per year while also giving up more yards and a higher passer rating in coverage per year.
While the defense as a whole struggled mightily in 2024, Pratt's decline was in the literal center of it all at linebacker. PFF counted him for a team-high 20 missed tackles and graded him a lowly 53.4 in coverage. Only five season-long starters missed as many or more tackles, and only 14 were worse in coverage.
Add on the fact that Anarumo is no longer in the building, and support for Pratt has likely left Paycor Stadium as well. New DC Al Golden was Pratt's position coach from 2020-21, but Golden wasn't a part of drafting the former NC State safety-turned-linebacker. It's completely fair for a former LB coach like Golden to want this position in particular to be in his image, and the 28-year old Pratt doesn't fit the bill.
Germaine Pratt knows what's coming, and is getting out in front of it
Pratt is either highly suspicious of the Bengals wanting to release him during free agency, or the club has told him one way or another he's not likely to be around for much longer. Requesting a trade is in his best interest for one reason.
If the Bengals trade Pratt instead of releasing him, his new team would then take on his current contract. Pratt is owed a salary of $5,250,000 for the 2025 season and could make another $600,000 in other bonuses throughout the year, per OverTheCap.com. The Bengals would save $5,825,000 by releasing or trading him before June 1.
Pratt would want to ensure he gets that money instead of having to make it back by signing with a new team as a free agent. He may believe that those numbers wouldn't be in store for him on the open market. The Bengals were able to sign him for an average annual value of $6,750,000 when he was two years younger coming off of a quality season.
This is mainly about money at this point. Pratt knows he's not in Cincinnati's plans, so landing on a new team that wants to pay him what he signed for two years ago is his best option.
Cincinnati should definitely be interested in trading Pratt
Considering Pratt is now definitely on track to be a cap casualty, the Bengals should gauge what they can get for him in a trade instead. Netting any form of draft capital is better than just letting him go and taking on over $2 million in dead cap. Rapoport claims that the team will have options should they go down this route.
The Bengals were in a similar position last year with Joe Mixon. Instead of releasing him, they were able to trade him to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick. The Texans ended up signing Mixon to a new contract altogether, which would be a fantastic outcome for Pratt, but not as likely this time around.
Along with Pratt, the Bengals are expected to move on from defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, right guard Alex Cappa, and defensive end Sam Hubbard. Free safety Geno Stone is also a potential cap casualty.
Pratt might be the only name of this group that could garner anything greater than a late Day 3 draft pick. The Bengals should at the very least explore this avenue before moving on like they're expected to do so.
Either way, Pratt's time in Cincinnati is just about finished. Fans will always remember his playoff moment and other memorable turnovers he caused, but the defense is now entering a new chapter without him.
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