The Las Vegas Raiders needed to make a move at linebacker. As it turns out, the further decimation of the defense in Cincinnati is giving them some help in the form of Germaine Pratt.
The Raiders signed the recently freed Pratt away from the Bengals on Wednesday with a reported one year deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
For those smarting at the Raiders potentially getting better, however, there's reason to believe this deal might not move the needle too much when all is said and done.
The Bengals made the decision to release Pratt at the start of the week as the team further overhauls its defense following some very successful years under coordinator Lou Anarumo. The Indianapolis Colts are now allowing Anarumo to call the defensive shots, and the Bengals are turning the page on some vets as well.
After suffering through a miserable defensive season one year ago, Pratt had already requested a trade away from Cincy this offseason. With no takers, the Bengals decided to release him outright. How much he will be missed is debatable, but the Bengals are already in overhaul mode on that side of the ball as it is.
Germaine Pratt isn't going to be the linebacking upgrade that Raider fans are hoping for.
Meanwhile, the Raiders had a Robert Spillane-sized hole in the defense after watching him depart for the New England Patriots in free agency. Spillane was an underappreciated asset to an otherwise pitiful Raiders defense, and the linebacking corps isn't all that impressive in his absence.
Pratt has been a team captain for the Bengals and brings valuable leadership to the team. His experience and run defense provide an upgrade over the void they had in Las Vegas, to be sure. But anyone worried about a significant upgrade in the heart of the defense for the Kansas City Chiefs' rivals should think again.
Last year, Pratt's penchant for being a solid tackler took a big step back. He missed 20 tackles, per Pro Football Focus, and ended up with a tackling grade of 47.6 (down nearly 20 points from the year prior). Pratt also just turned 29 years old and will be learning a new system for the first time in his career.
While Pratt will likely earn reps in coverage for the Raiders, the results will be middling at best. Last year, Pratt allowed 62 catches on 79 targets and an opposing passer rating of 103.5, the second-worst mark of his career (per PFF).
What Pratt has left in the tank willl be made clear as the 2025 season unfolds, and there's value in having an experienced player who can provide a floor at the position. But from the outside looking in, the news around the signing will point to brighter results and greater impact than what is likely to be realized on the field. Spillane's loss is still tough and Pratt likely won't let them forget about it in 2025.