Bengals Part Ways with Defensive Anchor Germaine Pratt
It’s official—linebacker Germaine Pratt’s time with the Cincinnati Bengals has come to an end. And let me tell you, this move sends ripples through not just the locker room, but across the entire AFC North. Pratt, who has been a fixture of the Bengals' defense since 2019, is being released after six seasons with the team. This wasn’t a complete shock if you’ve been following closely—he did request a trade back in February—but seeing it actually happen? That hits different.
Now, if you’re wondering why this decision was made, it all comes down to the usual mix of salary cap strategy and shifting priorities. Pratt was due to make $5.25 million in base salary this season—the final year of his three-year, $20+ million deal he signed in 2023. By releasing him, the Bengals will clear over $5.6 million in cap space while eating around $2.3 million in dead money. That's a hefty but calculated move.
Germaine Pratt wasn’t just any guy on the roster—he was a team captain, a leader on and off the field, and last season’s leading tackler. Let that sink in. He racked up 143 total tackles in 2024, along with a pair of interceptions, multiple tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. This guy brought grit, leadership, and consistency, year in and year out. In fact, he’s surpassed 90 tackles every year since 2020 and went well over 100 in the past two seasons.
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And let’s not forget his clutch moment in the 2021 playoffs—his game-sealing interception against the Raiders was the stuff of legend. That play alone helped the Bengals clinch their first postseason win in over three decades. So yeah, this isn’t just a roster cut. It’s the end of an era.
So, what now for Cincinnati? Well, with Pratt gone, the battle for his weak-side linebacker spot is wide open. We’re looking at Joe Giles-Harris, Oren Burks, and rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter stepping into the mix. That’s a lot of unproven ground to cover—literally and figuratively.
Also, don’t overlook the coaching changes happening in Cincy. For the first time since Zac Taylor became head coach, Lou Anarumo won’t be calling the shots on defense. Al Golden is stepping in as the new defensive coordinator, which means a fresh system and philosophy might be part of the long-term vision behind this decision.
Pratt now enters free agency, and he’s bound to draw serious interest. He’s only 29, in his prime, and coming off one of his best seasons yet. For Bengals fans, though, it’s a bittersweet goodbye to a player who gave his all—every snap, every tackle, every season.
It’s going to be strange seeing him in another jersey, but that’s the nature of the NFL. One chapter ends, and another begins.
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