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For a team that didn't fire their head coach this offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals have had a lot of eyeballs on their franchise over the last few months since their unfortunate finish in 2024.
Cincinnati moved on from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after six seasons and replaced him with former Bengals linebackers coach (and Notre Dame defensive coordinator) Al Golden. They then locked up Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on massive four-year extensions to keep their offensive core around for the foreseeable future.
The defensive roster, however, is still in flux. Earlier this offseason, the Bengals gave defensive end Trey Hendrickson the opportunity to seek a trade, as he looks for a new contract. They've also received a trade request from linebacker Germaine Pratt that has yet to be fulfilled.
While there are likely many teams interested in Pratt's services, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently identified the Los Angeles Rams as a team that may make sense as a trade partner.
Pratt, 28, played collegiately at NC State from 2014-18, earning First-team All-ACC honors in his final season with the Wolfpack.
Cincinnati selected Pratt in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft and made him a rotational linebacker in his rookie season. However, Pratt's role has grown every season, peaking at 95% of the team's defensive snaps in 2024.
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In his six professional seasons, Pratt has recorded 616 tackles (32 for a loss), 23 passes defensed, 10 quarterback hits, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles, five fumbles recovered and 3.5 sacks.
Last year, Pratt played in all 17 games and finished the year with a career-high 143 tackles (five for a loss), six passes defensed, four quarterback hits, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 60.6 overall grade for his performance, ranking him 110th out of 189 linebackers in 2024. He also earned a 70.1 run-defense grade (53rd), a 54.5 pass-rush grade (122nd) and a 53.4 coverage grade (125th).
Cincinnati may feel comfortable moving on from Pratt after adding former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks and former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Joe Giles-Harris in free agency, as well as South Carolina's Demetrius Knight and Clemson's Barrett Carter in the 2025 NFL draft.
Pratt, who's entering the final season of his three-year, $20.25 million deal, could step in and be a solid piece in Los Angeles' defensive front alongside Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner.
Last year, they surrendered 136.9 rushing yards per contest (fifth-most in the NFL). Adding Pratt could really help in that aspect.
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