The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason continues to get more difficult with every passing day.
Standout linebacker Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It is unclear if the Bengals have any intention of granting Pratt’s request.
A defensive captain for the Bengals, Pratt was the team’s leading tackler in 2024. He tallied 143 total tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles while playing in all 17 games for Cincinnati.
Notably, Rapoport notes that Pratt was close with former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was fired at the end of the season and is now with an AFC rival.
Pratt is entering the final season of the three-year contract he signed with the Bengals in 2023. He carries a cap hit just shy of $8 million for 2025, and would likely demand a significant raise if the Bengals — or anyone else — wanted to sign him long-term. For Cincinnati, that could prove to be a huge challenge, with Ja’Marr Chase expecting a new deal and Tee Higgins also becoming a free agent. The team will have some tough choices to make, and they might have to sacrifice Pratt if they want to keep Chase and Higgins in the fold.
The Bengals are coming off a season that saw them finish 9-8 and miss the playoffs despite an incredible season from Joe Burrow. Burrow wants the Bengals to focus on keeping their skill players, which could mean Pratt’s time with the organization is almost at an end.
