Germaine Pratt was a staple of the Bengals defense since his arrival in the NFL in 2019. Pratt started nine games as a rookie in 2019, then 16 in 2020, 15 in 2021 and 2022, and all 17 in 2023 and 2024. So far with the Raiders, Pratt has started three straight games logging 19 tackles, a TFL, a stuff, 2 PBU, 6 stops, and allowing a sub 80 QBR. The Raiders signed Pratt after the Bengals released him following a down year in 2024, and the 29 year old has returned to his former self throughout the Raiders first
three weeks. The 6’3/250 ILB has played just over 90% of the Raiders snaps through the first three weeks and with that has been the Raiders best ILB. After signing just a 1 year, 5.5 million deal this off-season, Pratt could be in line to record a good payday following a continued strong season to end the year.
Pratt has logged a career 631 tackles, 38 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 7 INT, 7 FF, and 29 PBU while remaining as a quality coverage linebacker with a career 96.5 QBR allowed (three seasons under 85 QBR, including 2025). Pratt works best when working on a weakside role instead of working directly as the traditional mike role, something Cincinnati asked of him at times causing struggles in missed tackles and coverage at times. Pratt is an adequate athlete and the Raiders have put him in a strong spot preventing athleticism from being a flaw defenses can attack. Pratt works well in space, has good instincts and trigger vs the run game and overall just looks comfortable in the Raiders defense that doesn’t ask a ton of their linebackers.
2026 Market Preview:
Pratt is one of 4 Raiders set to hit the market at ILB this off-season with Devin White, Jamal Adams, and Elandon Roberts also slated to hit free agency. While it’s likely some come back, there’s going to be at least one or two that go separate ways and cash in on their 2025 season. Devin White has looked excellent for the Raiders for the most part, though he has struggled at times in pass coverage and overpurusing the run game. The 2026 free agent ILB class is slated to feature three veterans in Lavonte David, Bobby Wagner, and Demario Davis. If one is to hit the market, the most likely will be Davis, though there’s a strong chance all three call it a career which would leave Bills ILB Matt Milano and Lions’ Alex Anzalone as the top free agents. However, there’s other quality linebackers set to hit the market with Quincy Williams (Jets), Devin Bush (Browns), and Devin Lloyd (Jaguars) set to hit. Pratt is similar in age to Williams with Bush and Lloyd being 27 years old which will likely cause for them to see an increase in average value despite a similar playstyle and overall success in their systems.
Germaine Pratt is currently projected a 2 year, 18 million contract with 11 million guaranteed, which would allow him to be inside the top 25 for NFL ILB salaries. The Raiders have to be impressed with the level of play they are getting out of Pratt, though Patrick Graham and Pete Carroll also have a track record of not paying their ILB allowing them to hit the open market. Las Vegas could look to avoid paying Pratt 9M a season and look to capitalize on coaching and their system to find budget linebackers similar to Devin White, Jamal Adams, and Elandon Roberts. While the strategy has worked through 2 of the Raiders three games, there’s a real concern for whether or not that can be sustained across a season and again in another year. If Pratt is able to continue the level of play that is currently being played there’s a good market awaiting him in free agency, but the Raiders should re-sign him and keep consistency at the position.
