Germaine Pratt

Colts To Sign LB Germaine Pratt

October 8th, 2025 at 11:11am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Colts are signing veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt to a one-year deal, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Pratt was released by the Raiders on Monday and needed little time to find a new home. He received interest from at least four other teams, but opted for a reunion with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Anarumo was hired for the same position in Cincinnati in 2019, the same year that Pratt was drafted by the Bengals. The pair worked together for six seasons until the team opted to part ways with both player and coach this offseason.

The Colts needed some depth at linebacker, per FOX54’s Mike Chappell, and Pratt more than fits the bill as a proven defender with 92 starts under his belt. He showed plenty of development under Anarumo in Cincinnati, totaling 360 tackles, 19 passes defended, six interceptions, five forced fumbles, and three sacks over his last three seasons as a Bengal.

The Colts’ veteran linebackers, Zaire Franklin and Joe Bachie, have both disappointed to start the year, so Pratt’s familiarity with Anarumo could see him quickly take over a prominent role in Indianapolis, especially since the Colts are still waiting on Jaylon Carlies to fully recover from his ankle injury. His stint on injured reserve was not expected to extend far past the four-game minimum, but the second-year linebacker has yet to return to practice.

Pratt could even play himself into a long-term role in Indianapolis if he returns to his previous production under Anarumo. Franklin is signed through the 2027 season, but has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract, per OverTheCap. If Pratt seems like a better option moving forward, he could take over a starting job for the rest of this season and potentially beyond.

Raiders Release LB Germaine Pratt

October 6th, 2025 at 1:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Germaine Pratt‘s brief tenure with the Raiders has come to an end. The veteran linebacker has been released, head coach Pete Carroll announced on Monday.

When speaking about the decision, Carroll said (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden) the team simply decided to move in a different direction. That is a clear indication Pratt was no longer in Vegas’ plans for the year. Indeed, the 29-year-old did not travel with the Raiders for their Week 5 game despite being healthy, as noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Pratt was long seen as a cut candidate for the Bengals this offseason, and in June he was let go. That marked an end to the former third-rounder’s Cincinnati stint, one which spanned the first six years of his career. Pratt was not on the open market for long, as he inked a Raiders deal shortly after his release. That one-year pact contained $3.75MM in guarantees, and the team will take on that amount as a dead money charge.

This release will create just over $1MM in cap space, adding to the roughly $7.6MM in funds the Raiders already had prior to this move. It will be interesting to see if Vegas pursues a free agent or trade acquisition at the linebacker position to fill Pratt’s roster spot. Failing that, internal options will be counted on the rest of the way.

Pratt was inactive yesterday but he served as a starter for each of the Raiders’ first four games, logging a snap share of 88% during that time. Replacing a workload of that size could prove to be difficult, although the speed with which this decision has been made demonstrates Vegas’ willingness to move on early in the campaign. Pratt posted 25 tackles and a pair of pass deflections in September.

Given today’s move, the NC State product is once again a free agent. Pratt has 100 appearances and 92 starts to his name. He will thus offer plenty of experience to any interested teams, although a backup gig could be in store provided a deal is worked out allowing him to continue playing in 2025.

Raiders, LB Germaine Pratt Agree To Deal

June 11th, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Germaine Pratt has managed to find his next opportunity rather quickly. Shortly after being released by the Bengals, the veteran linebacker has lined up a Raiders agreement.

Pratt will head to Vegas on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The pact has a maximum value of $4.78MM. Pratt will collect $4.25MM in base pay, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

For most of his six-year career, Pratt operated as a full-time starter at the second level of Cincinnati’s defense. Multiple indications pointed to a parting of ways taking place this offseason, however. That became official when the 29-year-old was released earlier this week. Pratt clearly drew immediate interest on the open market.

Indeed, Schultz notes several teams reached out once he became a free agent. Pratt has 88 starts to his name, and he has increased his tackle figures every year of his career. The former third-rounder has totaled 261 stops across the past two seasons, adding four interceptions, four forced fumbles and nine pass deflections during that time. Another productive campaign with his latest team could help Pratt land a multi-year commitment in free agency next spring.

In the aftermath of the Bengals’ decision to move on, many pointed to the Colts as a logical Pratt suitor. Former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is now Indianapolis’ DC, so a reunion would have provided the Colts with a first-team linebacker option familiar with the team’s scheme. Instead, Pratt will work with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and returning D-coordinator Patrick Graham.

The Raiders ranked 25th in points allowed last season, but the team finished 15th in total defense. Similarly, Vegas finished 13th against the run, and improvement in that regard will be a goal for the first year with Carrol at the helm. Pratt will look to provide the team with a veteran presence at the LB spot, and the base value of his late-offseason deal suggests a starting spot awaits him.

Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo departed in free agency. Vegas brought in a veteran in the form of Elandon Roberts while also taking a flier on former top-five pick Devin White (a familiar face to general manager John Spytek given their time together in Tampa Bay). Seventh-round rookie Cody Lindenberg will compete for a depth/special teams role, but the new-look linebacker setup leaves room for an established contributor. Pratt will look to fit that description in 2025.

Bengals Release LB Germaine Pratt

June 9th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Germaine Pratt will not be with the Bengals in 2025. The veteran linebacker will be released today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The team has since confirmed the move.

Throughout the offseason, signs have pointed to a parting of ways in this case. Pratt has loomed as a release candidate for months, and today’s move will allow him to hit the open market ahead of training camp. The 29-year-old requested a trade in February, but no agreement was worked out with an interested team. Now, the sides will move on after six years together.

One season remained on Pratt’s contract, but none of his scheduled base salary was guaranteed. Instead of keeping the former third-rounder in place at a cap hit of $8.18MM, the Bengals will take the financial benefits of this move. Cutting Pratt after June 1 will generate $5.85MM in savings while incurring a dead money charge of $2.33MM.

Since the start of last month, a release has been seen as an inevitability. Cincinnati will continue to rely heavily on Logan Wilson as a productive contributor at the second level of the defense in 2025. That marks the first season with Al Golden in place as defensive coordinator, and he will have a pair of rookies in place at the linebacker spot. Second-rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. is in position to replace Pratt as a starter.

Golden’s predecessor, Lou Anarumo, now finds himself in charge of the Colts’ defense. To little surprise, Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison notes Indianapolis is a logical landing spot for Pratt. The team lost E.J. Speed in free agency, and with more than $20MM in cap space a low-cost Pratt signing aimed at inserting him into the starting lineup should not be a challenge.

After taking on a first-team role midway through his rookie campaign, Pratt remained a mainstay on defense through the remainder of his Bengals career. The NC State product has increased his tackle total every year, and he hit double-digits in that respect over each of the past two campaigns. With seven interceptions and 23 pass deflections to his name, production against the pass will also be expected once he lands with a new team.

The Bengals entered Monday mid-pack in the NFL in terms of cap space, but once the Pratt move is processed they will have additional funds available. It will be interesting to see if a linebacker addition winds up being made from outside the organization or if Cincinnati’s in-house options will be relied on to fill the vacancy.

Bengals Likely To Release Germaine Pratt?

May 1st, 2025 at 10:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the offseason, Germaine Pratt has represented a cut candidate for the Bengals. The veteran linebacker remains in the fold for now, but that may soon change.

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes it “shouldn’t be long until” Pratt is released by Cincinnati (subscription required). Cutting the six-year veteran (before or after June 1) would yield $5.85MM in cap savings while generating $2.33MM in dead money. One season remains on Pratt’s contract.

The NC State product made nine starts as a rookie and he has remained a fixture on defense ever since. Pratt – who turns 29 later this month – set a new career high with 143 tackles last season. The Bengals have Logan Wilson in place as the anchor of the LB unit for 2025 and beyond, though, and the draft brought about a pair of additions at the position. That includes Demetrius Knight Jr., who will likely find himself in a starting role if/when Cincinnati moves forward with a Pratt release.

The latter requested a trade in February, but to no surprise teams have proven to be unwilling to pursue a deal in his case. With Pratt on track to be released, suitors can of course wait for him to become a free agent in the post-draft market. Cincinnati has Wilson and Knight in place, along with Barrett Carter – selected in the fourth round of the draft – and free agent signing Oren Burks. It would come as no surprise if the team entered training camp with that core group not including Pratt.

If the former third-rounder is indeed let go, he will join a free agent linebacker group which also features Shaq Thompson, Kyzir White, Ja’Whaun Bentley and De’Vondre Campbell. As the Bengals sort through their depth chart in the wake of the draft, Pratt’s situation remains one to watch.

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt Requests Trade

February 12th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

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.

Sheldon Rankins, Alex Cappa Among Bengals’ Potential Cuts

January 16th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bengals are projected to enter the 2025 offseason with just under $50MM in cap space, per OverTheCap, the 11th-most in the NFL. Still, that might not be enough for the front office to accomplish all of their offseason goals.

The front office will be focused on re-signing wide receiver Tee Higgins and offensive lineman Cody Ford while shoring up a defense that ranked in the bottom 10 in points and yards allowed in 2024. An extension for Ja’Marr Chase is likely also in the works, so $50MM may not be enough for all of their offseason priorities. The Bengals have a few options to create some additional cap space, according to Paul Dehner of The Athletic, starting with two veterans in the trenches.

Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins struggled to anchor the interior of Cincinnati’s defensive line this season, making it unlikely the team will carry him at a $10.6MM cap hit. He played in just seven games before coming down with an undisclosed illness that sidelined him for the rest of the season. The Bengals can save $8.6MM by releasing Rankins, with a dead cap charge of just $2MM.

Offensive guard Alex Cappa played through an injury to start all 17 games in 2024, but struggled to protect the pocket for Joe Burrow. Cappa has been an iron man since signing with the Bengals in 2022, starting all but one regular season game with 3,319 total snaps, but he hasn’t played well enough to merit his $10.25MM cap charge in 2025. The Bengals can clear $8MM in cap savings by releasing him while absorbing a $2.25MM dead cap hit.

Dehner lists a handful of additional potential cap casualties, including linebacker Germaine Pratt, safety Geno Stone, and running back Zack Moss. One of the organization’s tougher decisions will surround the team’s longest-tenured player. Defensive end Sam Hubbard is attached to an $11.5MM cap hit in 2025, and the team would be left with only $2.5MM in dead cap by moving on from the veteran. Hubbard’s play has declined in recent years, but the edge rusher is still one of the most beloved players in franchise history. Because of his connection to the organization, Dehner wonders if the two sides may be able to find a common ground that reduces the player’s cap number and allows him to finish his career in Cincy.

As Dehner notes, Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn has drawn criticism for being reluctant to hand out guaranteed money beyond the first season of a contract. That’s already led to some degrees of tension with Higgins, Chase, and Jessie Bates. On the flip side, it’s also provided the front office with some easy outs on under-performing veterans like Rankins and Cappa. After the Bengals disappointed in 2024, the team could be eyeing a roster overhaul, and the team can unlock more wiggle room thanks to the creative structuring of their contracts.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Jonah Williams Trade Market Limited; Bengals T Blindsided By Brown Signing

March 29th, 2023 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonah Williams requested a trade out of Cincinnati shortly after the team gave Orlando Brown a four-year, $64MM contract. While many around the league view Brown’s best position as right tackle, the Bengals are accommodating the former Ravens and Chiefs blocker’s wish to play on the left side.

When the Bengals signed Brown, Williams learned about it like the rest of the football world did. The three-year Cincinnati left tackle starter was “blindsided” by the move, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets. The Bengals have talked about wanting Williams at right tackle, but Conway adds they did not communicate those plans to the former first-round pick ahead of time.

It is not exactly uncommon for teams to move forward with big-picture plans without informing players those strategies will affect, though franchises have made a habit of alerting quarterbacks to future additions at the position in recent years. The Bengals, however, did not expect to land Brown. The Pro Bowl tackle’s reps contacted the team, according to Bengals director of pro scouting Steven Radicevic (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.).

Nearly three days after the legal tampering period gave agents permission to negotiate with teams, Brown remained unsigned. The Bengals entered free agency wanting to re-sign Vonn Bell, Germaine Pratt, Hayden Hurst and Samaje Perine, Dehner adds, noting the team viewed Jessie Bates as out of its price range. Bates signed a four-year, $64MM Falcons deal on the tampering period’s first day. Bell’s age prompted the Bengals to set a firm ceiling on his negotiations, leading the eighth-year safety to the Panthers, who later signed Hurst to what turned out to be this year’s top tight end deal. Perine defected to the Broncos for terms nearly identical to what the Bengals offered.

Brown’s camp showed interest in the Bengals on March 14; the sides agreed to terms March 15. Seeking a job on another contender, Brown said Joe Burrow‘s presence attracted him to Cincinnati; the Bengals will give him $42.4MM in the deal’s first two years. The upfront cash sealed the deal, per Dehner. The Bengals were looking at free agent tackles, Dehner adds, but initially eyeing lower-priced options. One of those coming to Cincinnati may not have led to Williams being moved off his starting spot without competition, but Brown’s pedigree will. As a result, Williams wants out.

Zac Taylor said this week he expects Williams to be back and partake in a competition at right tackle, a position the former has not played since his freshman season at Alabama. Going into a contract year, Williams wants to stay at his position.

“We want guys that are willing to do to help us win games,” Taylor said, via Conway. “And I understand there’s comfort levels playing certain sides. Trust me, I played quarterback so I’m not going to sit there and pretend that I’ve got experience moving from right guard to left guard. I know that there’s some reps that need to take place to feel completely comfortable with that, but most of these guys have done it at some point in their career. So they’ve at least got experience doing it and that’s just the way it will go for us.”

Williams’ 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame was a factor in the team prioritizing the 6-8, 340-pound Brown, Conway adds, and Dehner notes Collins’ injury issues — which also included a back problem that prevented the ex-Cowboys standout from practicing on Wednesdays last season — and struggles in pass protection led to the Bengals pursuing tackles. Bengals O-line coach Frank Pollack has said the plan is for Collins to compete for the job, and Taylor alluded to former second-round pick Jackson Carman — a converted guard the team moved to tackle to replace Williams during the playoffs — being part of it as well.

Although an early report surfaced indicating Williams was generating interest from several teams, Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero notes no team has proven willing to send the Bengals a high draft choice for their hopeful right tackle. Williams is due $12.6MM on his fifth-year option this season. Teams like the Colts, Jets and Buccaneers would make sense as Williams destinations, but as of now, he is ticketed for what would be an unusual position battle with Collins, whom the Bengals gave a three-year, $21MM deal in 2022, and potentially Carman.

Both Williams and Collins are coming off season-ending knee injuries; Williams suffered a dislocated kneecap and Collins ACL and MCL tears. These maladies played a major role in the Chiefs prevailing in the teams’ AFC championship game rematch despite a gimpy Patrick Mahomes. Brown switching sides in this rivalry may lead to another falling domino, but as of now, no Williams trade is imminent.

Bengals To Re-Sign LB Germaine Pratt

March 13th, 2023 at 1:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Germaine Pratt‘s strong contract year upped his value, but he will not end up relocating. The Bengals have reached a deal to retain the ascending linebacker, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

The veteran linebacker will stay in Cincinnati on a three-year, $21MM deal that includes $10.35MM in Year 1. Pratt and Logan Wilson will remain in place as Cincy’s top linebackers, with the latter going into a contract year. Wilson should be expected to secure a higher-value extension, seeing as the Bengals use him as a three-down linebacker, but Pratt has become a key piece for Lou Anarumo’s defense.

As Pratt agreed to stay in town, the Bengals lost Vonn Bell to the Panthers. They are also expected to see Jessie Bates depart. That will provide a challenge for Anarumo, considering those two worked as Cincy’s primary safety starters for the past three years. Pratt returning will certainly help the team’s front seven, however.

Timing his contract year well, Pratt totaled a career-high 99 tackles (six for loss) and intercepted two passes. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as its No. 11 off-ball linebacker in 2022. Pratt has been a regular throughout his career, having started 54 games for the Bengals.

This will create an interesting equation for the Bengals, who could have two off-ball ‘backers on notable contracts before this season begins. Wilson became eligible for an extension in January. The tackling dynamo has seen the field more often than Pratt, who voiced issues with being taken off the field in certain sub-packages. Pratt, however, is responsible for one of the most pivotal turnovers in Bengals history. He intercepted Derek Carr to lock up the team’s 2021 wild-card win over the Raiders. Pratt also picked off Tom Brady during Cincinnati’s comeback win in Tampa last year, and he log a career-high 76% snap rate on defense last season.

Starters flooded this year’s linebacker market, so it is not too surprising Pratt did not fetch an upper-crust deal here. He will stay with the Bengals for essentially lower-middle-class money at the position. As Joe Burrow‘s extension looms, however, the team finding money to pay a role player on defense could be important.

Giants Rumors: Lawrence, Edwards, WRs, Love

March 12th, 2023 at 6:03pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants have been eyeing an extension for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence for a while now and, following a breakout season, the team has made it a priority. New York started preliminary conversations with Lawrence about two weeks ago, but Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS claims he wouldn’t be surprised to see a new deal done “sooner than later.”

Despite the ever-growing markets for every position, the league’s market for defensive tackles has never been near the contract of generational talent Aaron Donald. It appears that this will continue to be the case as we see the defensive tackle market reestablished this offseason. Washington has already made Daron Payne the new second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind Donald with a four-year, $90MM contract. Payne’s average annual value of $22.5MM is still well short of Donald’s $31.67MM per year.

It will be interesting to see where the Giants go from Payne’s deal. Payne established himself as a premier pass-rushing defensive tackle in the league this season but struggled in run defense. Lawrence didn’t have the pass rush production that Payne did but still excelled in the area while also being strong against the run.

Lawrence graded out as the second-best defensive tackle in the league this year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). It would make perfect sense for the Giants to reward Lawrence with a contract that surpasses that of Payne’s new deal, but will Lawrence be able to come anywhere close to the heights reached by Donald?

Here are a few more rumors surrounding the Giants’ priorities at the start of the new league year:

Starting the offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents, New York had a laundry list of names and positions to take care of. One of those positions that has been getting some chatter is inside linebacker. Specifically, the Giants have continuously been connected to Eagles pending free agent linebacker T.J. Edwards, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The four-year Philadelphia defender has had two increasingly impressive breakout seasons, recording career-highs last year in total tackles (159), tackles for loss (10), sacks (2.0), quarterback hits (5), and passes defensed (7). Aside from Edwards, the top name expected to be available at the position is Tremaine Edmunds from Buffalo. Other names of interest for the G-Men include the Commanders’ Cole Holcomb, the Bengals’ Germaine Pratt, the Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch, the Lions’ Alex Anzalone, and the Chargers’ Drue Tranquill.
The wide receivers position has been an obvious need on the Giants’ roster for some time now, but it doesn’t appear that the Giants intend to address that through free agency, according to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News. With their focuses in free agency and the draft reportedly on inside linebackers, defensive linemen, cornerbacks, and interior offensive linemen, thoughts are that the trade market may make more sense for New York. If the Bills aren’t able to reach an extension agreement with Gabriel Davis, the Giants could be strong contenders to acquire his talents. The Rams have granted receiver Allen Robinson permission to seek a trade. Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins appears to be available for a price, as well. There are other names that could be interesting additions to the trade market such as Cincinnati wideout Tyler Boyd or Denver’s Jerry Jeudy. The team might still make free agency moves for veterans like Cole Beasley or Odell Beckham Jr., but the trade market could be a more attractive way to bring in established talent to New York.
There is reportedly optimism that the Giants will be able to come to an agreement to re-sign pending free agent safety Julian Love. After two seasons of relatively down play, Love had a bounce-back, breakout season in a contract year. He led the team in tackles by a mile with 124 total and tacked on two interceptions for good measure. Love may not be expected to make top money at the position, but after playing out his rookie contract, it appears Love is on the right track to remaining in New York long-term.

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