Shocking Commanders trade proposal adds Bengals $20 million starter to defense

The Washington Commanders' defense must take the next step in 2025. The unit was inconsistent in 2024 and was completely exposed during the NFC Championship game, as they had no answers for the Philadelphia Eagles' dynamic offense.

Though the secondary is the biggest question mark on the unit, Last Word on Sports' Anthony Palacios believes the Commanders should upgrade the linebacker room and trade for disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt.

"Meanwhile, the Commanders could use the depth in their defense since they couldn’t replicate much success like the offense had. Veteran Bobby Wagner is returning to the Commanders, but he’s aging and could call it a career at any moment. However, they lost a gem in Dante Fowler Jr., who led this pass-rush in sacks to the Dallas Cowboys. The Commanders could make a splash trade and acquire Pratt to strengthen their roster," Palacios wrote.

Pratt requested a trade out of Cincinnati in February, but the veteran is still on the team after the draft. The 28-year-old has just one year left on his deal, and based on his play in 2024, it's unlikely that the Bengals want to give him another contract.

Though Pratt has a ton of starting experience and could help out the Commanders' defense, trading for him would make zero sense for Washington.

The Commanders already have two outstanding starting linebackers in Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, and though Wagner is getting older, they can find his eventual replacement in a future draft rather than giving up draft capital for a player on an expiring contract in Pratt.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. believes the Bengals will release Pratt at some point this offseason if they can't find a trade partner, so signing him to a cheap deal in free agency would make a lot more sense for Washington. However, general manager Adam Peters shouldn't worry about the linebacker group that much and should instead focus on the secondary and building around budding superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels.

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