{"id":25513,"date":"2025-06-12T01:35:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=25513"},"modified":"2025-06-12T01:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:35:03","slug":"breaking-former-bengals-linebacker-germaine-pratt-signs-with-afc-competitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=25513","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Former Bengals Linebacker Germaine Pratt Signs With AFC Competitor"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the Cincinnati Bengals make the playoffs, there’s a chance they take on linebacker Germaine Pratt and the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n

\"Raiders<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals\u2019\u00a0defense has been a topic of consternation for much of the offseason. The unit helped waste a season of\u00a0quarterback\u00a0Joe Burrow\u2019s prime and the\u00a0Super Bowl\u00a0chances that come with it. After the early stages of free agency and the\u00a0NFL Draft, it may not have gotten much better.<\/p>\n

The Bengals are currently without their best defensive player, edge rusher\u00a0Trey Hendrickson,\u00a0as he holds out in search of a better deal. His new partner in crime (and potential replacement), edge rusher\u00a0Shemar Stewart,\u00a0hasn\u2019t seen the field because of a Cincinnati-style game of unnecessary hardball.<\/p>\n

Making matters worse, the Bengals cut linebacker Germaine Pratt months after he requested a trade. His replacement, linebacker Demetrius Knight II, also remains unsigned.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati\u2019s former linebacker signed with an AFC competitor on Wednesday, putting pen to paper with the\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders\u00a0just days after hitting the open market. His contract, a one-year deal, is worth up to $4.78 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cSources say Germaine Pratt had a very hot market after being released by the Bengals and had several teams interested in him,\u201d\u00a0Jordan Schultz reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Raiders ultimately made the most sense with the opportunity he\u2019ll have with Pete Carroll and DC Patrick Graham\u2019s defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Germaine<\/p>\n

Pratt had a rocky 2024 campaign, although he remained productive against the run, logging a career-best 143 tackles. Despite logging two interceptions for the third consecutive season, he was a part of a back-seven that struggled immensely, and his coverage woes may have helped run him out of town.<\/p>\n

However, Pratt is positioned to bounce back with the Raiders. Head coach Pete Carroll has made a career out of exceeding expectations on defense. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham did that in 2024, leading a league-average defense with one of the\u00a0NFL\u2019s lesser rosters.<\/p>\n

Perhaps cutting Pratt is the best for both sides, giving him a second chance to flourish and new defensive coordinator Al Golden a chance to shape the second level in his vision. Given Cincinnati\u2019s actions across the defense this offseason, though, some will be less willing to give the staff the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

The Raiders will not play the Bengals in 2025, barring a date in the AFC playoffs. With how competitive the conference looks to be, Pratt could play an outsized role in both teams\u2019 fates.<\/p>\n