Trading Germaine Pratt Is A Necessary First Step To Rebuilding Cincinnati’s Defense
Credit: Sam Greene via Imagn Images
Despite Germaine Pratt’s down year in 2024, Cincinnatians will always remember him as the guy whose interception sealed the Bengals’ first playoff win of the 21st century. It was pure euphoria; a weight had been lifted off the shoulders of the city. As for me, I was more than prepared to celebrate the first Bengals’ playoff victory since the invention of text messaging.
— Alex Schubert (@alexschubes) January 16, 2022
In terms of starters, the Bengals have largely kept the same core of players since that magical run in 2021. A lot of those key pieces, however, have fallen past their primes. It was a big issue with Pratt this season, and his season culminated with a trade request.
#Bengals defensive captain and leading tackler Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
Cincinnati has been devoting resources to keeping their offensive core together and Pratt was close to DC Lou Anarumo, who was fired after last season. pic.twitter.com/NuP0TmxIZv
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2025
The Bengals should want to move on themselves. It’s not that Pratt’s time here wasn’t solid. For what it’s worth I thought the Pratt draft selection was about as solid as it gets. He was the third player that Zac Taylor selected in the 2019 NFL Draft (72nd Overall), and his career as strong contributor shouldn’t be overshadowed by his rough season. He’s 10th all-time in Bengals history in solo tackles (355), and the franchise leader in assists on tackles (261).
Still, the Bengals, as a whole, need to get younger on defense, and linebacker is the key area to usher in a youth movement. For a team that has not drafted a single linebacker since 2020, finding a young, starting-caliber linebacker (and maybe even multiple, who knows?), is necessary to lead the defense into a new era.
It’s not like the Bengals are devoid of linebackers. Logan Wilson has arguably been the most consistent player on defense in the Taylor Era. Young Maema Njongmeta has shone in the opportunities he’s been given, particularly in making the greater Dallas-Ft. Worth area cry. However, it seems that Pratt has played his last snaps in a Bengals uniform, which seemed to be his fate even before trade request.
You see, the linebacker corps has struggled in areas like coverage and run defense, and has seemed to regress with each passing year. With former Bengals’ LB coach Al Golden now at the helm on defense, a new emphasis will not only be placed on developing new linebackers, but on finding a new, young defensive core.
“We’re not drafting them to sit next to us … That might be our #1 job.”@marshallkramsky asked Al Golden what his philosophy is, on playing rookies & young players. pic.twitter.com/1g9wctMAoo
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) January 27, 2025
Outside of signing star players long-term and acquiring a new guard, the Bengals don’t have many offseason needs on the offensive side of the ball. Golden’s comments hint toward an impending youth movement on defense, and that includes both players who are already on the roster (glancing at Jordan Battle), signing veteran free agents, and the upcoming NFL Draft.
Coverage vs. tight ends has continued to be an issue for Cincinnati. In terms of yards allowed, the Bengals ranked third-worst in the NFL in 2024 (1,114) after finishing second-worst in 2023 (1,080). With Pratt already having one foot out the door, the Bengals have an opportunity to look at linebackers who are strong in coverage like San Francisco’s Dre Greenlaw, Miami’s Tyrel Dodson, or Dallas’ Eric Kendricks. If the Bengals want to use leftover cap space from extending Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson (knock on wood), there are plenty of players in the free agent class who could provide proven NFL experience while also having shown zero signs of slowing down.
In the draft, players like Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell, UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, and Ole Miss’ Chris Paul Jr. (no relation) are all players who thrive both in coverage and in run defense. They are all likely Day 2 selections, which will give the Bengals the opportunity to address their defensive line, which they are largely expected to do, with their Day 1 pick.
This will be a game-changing offseason for the Bengals. The team is seemingly in do-or-die mode after their defensive struggles have tested Joe Burrow’s overall sanity. For a team that desperately needs a youth and rebuild on defense, starting with a position group that seemed to stagnate over the last couple years would be an excellent first step in doing so. Wilson is almost assuredly penciled in as the veteran leader, but under Golden’s tutelage, it’s reasonable to expect a young defender to step in from college and make an impact. The likely end of the Germaine Pratt Era in Cincy may be bittersweet, but it’s a necessary step for the future of the franchise.
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