The Cincinnati Bengals managing to re-sign Germaine Pratt in free agency was one of the more pleasant surprises about the team’s offseason approach.
It was also one of the most important.
Pratt has continued to blossom as a pro and develop his all-around game. So much so, he’s now been named one of the 11 best linebackers in the NFL, courtesy of rankings from Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar:
In tandem with Logan Wilson, Pratt makes up the league’s best linebacker tandem you’re not talking about enough. 2022 was Pratt’s best professional season to date, as he totaled a sack, eight quarterback pressures, 77 solo tackles, 41 stops, and 43 catches on 60 targets for 408 yards, 277 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, four passes breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 76.2.
Pratt technically comes in ninth, but it’s a boon for the Bengals regardless considering the rankings take into account consistency against the run, blitzing from multiple gaps and pass coverage.
As fans know all too well from that drought-ending interception against the Raiders two postseasons ago, Pratt continues to evolve as a pass defender, to the point that on a list like this, it’s Logan Wilson settling as an honorable mention.
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Story originally appeared on Bengals Wire