Bengals linebacker and defensive captain Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
Pratt set a career-high with 143 total tackles in 2024, which led the Bengals and ranked 11th among all defenders. Cincinnati’s defense was less successful as a unit, finishing in the bottom 10 in points and yards allowed. Those struggles culminated in the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was replaced by Al Golden.
With a new DC and two major wide receiver contracts to negotiate, the Bengals are expected to move on from several veteran players on the defensive side of the ball. That includes Pratt, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, who is entering the final year of his contract with a $8.18MM cap hit, per OverTheCap. A trade would net the Bengals some draft compensation while clearing $5.85MM from their 2025 salary cap with $2.33M in dead money. An acquiring team would take on Pratt’s $5.25MM base salary along with $250k in per game roster bonus, a $100k workout bonus, and $250k in likely-to-be-earned incentives.
With an affordable contract for a starting linebacker, there may be a trade market for Pratt’s services. The Bengals did not give into trade requests from Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson last year. However, since they seem likely to release Pratt anyway, other teams may wait for him to hit free agency rather than giving up a draft pick. Linebacker trades over the last two years have only involved players on their rookie contracts, with compensation maxing out at a Day 3 pick.
Pratt is not the only Bengal to signal his openness to a trade in recent weeks. Hendrickson said before the Super Bowl that he would prefer to be extended or traded as soon as possible. Other trade/cut candidates include defensive end Sam Hubbard, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, and safety Geno Stone, who would combine for $25MM in cap savings and just $5.5MM in dead money in 2025. Those moves would free up enough money for the Bengals to retain Higgins and sign Ja’Marr Chase to a massive extension, though the front office would have to find enough talent in free agency and the draft to field a competitive defense in 2025.
Plays horrible the past two years has multiple emotional outbursts and is a serious cut candidate man I can just imagine all the suitors lining up right now lol
I’m not disputing your take, but I am surprised by it. I honestly thought he was one of the only Bengal defenders with a pulse whoever I saw them this past season.
I also kind of don’t get this trade request. If he gets released, then he could have some choice in his destination; if he gets traded, the Bengals could send him anywhere. Unless of course Pratt is trying to trigger his release with this request…
As a bengals fan I legitimately thought he was horrendous this year. Just not fast enough anymore.
Sad but true.
And he’s gone from being a mid-round draft pick with a chip on his shoulder to a guy that always has something to complain about.
His interception against the Raiders is a huge part of Bengals history, but we’ve kinda reached the end of the road.
Only Linebacker I like is Wilson … that position needs an overhaul
I feel like the Bengals don’t often seem to prioritize linebackers, which is often very noticeable to me as a AFCN fan because the Steelers and Ravens often do prioritize them.
Call Indy and see if they’ll give a 6th or 7th round pick for him. Otherwise I suspect he’s a cap cut candidate.
Does Indy need overpriced linebackers who can’t tackle? No one is giving squat for Pratt to pay him 5M.
Wonder if he’ll pull a H Reddick move and hold out for a new deal?
He’s going to get cut if he they can’t trade him. He’s had one solid year, his contract year. He’s a playmaker but he’s slow footed, bad in coverage, and led the team in missed tackles.
I would also like to be traded.
You have too much dead money
Maybe he realizes that this generations Phil Rivers is vastly overhyped. Without a ton of all pro receivers that he can throw moon balls too, he is nothing. Bengals will win absolutely nothing while pretending Joey Burr is good…
Lmao what a bad take. Blaming Burrow while their downfall was pretty obviously on the defensive side of the ball is certainly a choice.
If Burrow was made available right this moment, at minimum 20 teams would be calling the Bengals 5 minutes ago. He is about as far from being his team’s problem as as player in the NFL.
lol. Reading comprehension would tell you that OP isn’t blaming Joe for anything. Merely pointing out how over rated he is. Without pro bowl targets he wouldn’t even be remarkable. Phil rivers without Gates Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams, he was nothing. Joe Burrow is this generations slow pocket QB who will never win anything.
Can you comprehend changing your user name to Awful McTake?
Cap space. With Burrow and his top two targets using up half the cap space, take another quarter for the rest of the offense, including OL, there’s not enough left to build an NFL defense.
Stabby – So where exactly do you rank Joe Burrow … since we are all pretending. To be honest , there’s not a QB in the league I’d rather have if I was starting a team. I mean I’d be happy with Jackson, Allen Hurts … maybe Mahomes …. But by choice I’d take Burrow over any. …. Stats don’t lie. Burrow is a stud and the best pure passer in football.
The raider should be all over this guy
bear
If the goal is to clear cap space for wr money then clearly Burrow must not as good a qb as people claim he is. Kidding aside, they’d be wise to move Higgins and use that money to extend chase and spend the rest on a defense that clearly needs an overhaul. Clearly this team can make the playoffs with its top heavy offense and lackluster defense. Offense isn’t enough to win anymore. Need to win on both sides. Bills are facing the same dilemma as far as offense is way ahead (that’s without a top end wr) and a defense that needs an overhaul/retool. Need those to clear the last hurdle (Chiefs) whom have better team balance hence the chance at a 3 peat.
They will have roughly $100M to spend against 2025 cap. Chase’s extension will LOWER his hit this year so there’s PLENTY of money to sign Tee, extend Trey, and acquire a half dozen contributors
I don’t understand what the Bengals are doing.
Cinny has to let Higgins walk…
And sign some of these D players…they can’t afford to lose much on that side of the ball…they were horrible last year but players like Pratt…Hubbard and Hendricks have to be brought back…Stone too…
Didn’t everyone watch the SB?!?!??