Could Bengals LB Germaine Pratt Help Upgrade Giants' Defense?

The Giants need help at linebacker. Could the Bengals' Germaine Pratt provide a boost to the unit?

Author:
Joe Najarian
Publish date:
Feb 8, 2023 3:09 PM EST

In this story:

LB Germaine Pratt

Current Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 250 lbs.
NFL Experience: 4 seasons (all with Bengals)
School: NC State (2014-2018)
Giants Current Cap Space: $44.42 million

The New York Giants inside linebacker corps struggled in 2022, thanks partially to injuries but mostly due to ineffectiveness. The Giants ran out Tae Crowder, Jaylon Smith, Micah McFadden, and Jarrad Davis at the position with minimal success, and in what was a very telling sign, those changes weren't made because of injury.

It could be argued that the Giants inside linebackers are probably the weakest position on the defensive side of the ball. For further proof of that, consider that the team's leading tackler, safety Julian Love, was from the defensive secondary, meaning far too many ball carriers were getting a little too deep down the field far too often.

To improve the unit, the Giants should not only look for an impact player but one who should thrive in their current defensive scheme. Regardless of what happens with his head coaching candidacy with the Colts, Wink Martindale's aggressive nature consisting of heavy blitzing and primarily man coverage, fit the Giants' existing talent like a glove.

While many Giants fans dream of New York having Bills inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds come to East Rutherford, let's look at another potential free agent candidate: Germaine Pratt of the Bengals.

Why He’d Be A Fit

A central part of an underrated Cincinnati defense, Pratt is a UFA coming off the best season of his career. His raw numbers are intriguing; 99 tackles (50 solos), two interceptions, and ten pass breakups. He’s an adaptable linebacker and generally good at everything the position demands.

Pratt’s 87.2 coverage grade is the fifth-best at his position. In man coverage, his 82.5 grade puts him in the top 15 at his position league-wide.

Considering Pratt's success against man coverage, he would appear to fit what the Giants currently prefer to run. But that's not the only area where Pratt can help improve the defense.

The Giants’ defense was plagued by an inability to stop the run and missed tackles. The missed tackles made the defense prone to allowing large gains on plays that could have been snuffed out. Meanwhile, the defense allowed 5.2 yards per carry on the ground, the second-worst in the league.

While in coverage, Pratt missed just two tackles. Against the run, he missed only 5.9% of his tackle opportunities.

Pratt has been able to stay healthy, playing 62 of 66 games in his first four seasons. Considering the injuries the Giants had to deal with this season, a durable player would certainly help the team’s staying power.

Drawbacks

There aren’t many notable drawbacks that Pratt has in terms of his play on the field, but there are some minor ones.

First, Pratt said he'd like to return to the Bengals next year if they want him. If the Bengals get into a bidding war for his services, it sounds like any attempts to sign him would be for naught.

According to PFF, Pratt, who ranks as the fifth-best free-agent linebacker, has an estimated APY of $10.6 million per Spotrac. The top two players on that list (Lavonte David of the Buccaneers and David Long of the Titans) have lower calculated market values.

Pratt’s skillset is a jack-of-all-trades, but his abilities may be outshined by other available linebackers (especially Lavonte David) who cost similar or even less.

Final Thoughts

Bringing in a quality linebacker would significantly improve the Giants’ defense, and Pratt fits that bill with his adaptability, varied skillset, and how well he’d fit in Wink Martindale’s defense.

However, other external factors, such as Martindale’s potential departure if he gets the Colts' head coaching job and a deep linebacker market, might not make Pratt the most attractive option, even if he'd make an excellent addition given his background and skill set.