Now that Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, the conversation shifts to where he might end up.
At this point, there’s no if about the situation — Pratt is a $7.9 million cap hit in 2025 and an obvious cut candidate after his struggles last year and the defense getting a new coordinator with Al Golden.
One of the most obvious locales that come to mind, of course, is the Indianapolis Colts. That’s one of two listed by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who just ranked Pratt as No. 9 on the offseason trade board:
The Indianapolis Colts are the most logical landing spot for Pratt. Linebacker E.J. Speed is an impending free agent, and Indy recently hired former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for the same position.
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Knox also lists the Kansas City Chiefs as a back-up option for a Pratt trade. While fans might think it unlikely the Bengals help out one of their biggest rivals like that, keep in mind that they did right by shipping Joe Mixon to a contender with the Houston Texans in the AFC, too.
The problem with any Pratt trade idea is whether a team like the Colts bother picking up the phone. His cap hit is rather large for his age and performance and it is certainly obvious that the Bengals could be cutting him this offseason.
For the Bengals, shipping Pratt anywhere for a return would register as a win.