PackPros: Germaine Pratt 2020 Outlook

Former NC State All-American Linebacker Germaine Pratt ended up starting the final 8 games of 2019 for the Bengals, who drafted him in the 3rd round last year. He finished with 76 tackles in 2019, which ranked 4th for Cincinnati. What makes that number impressive is that he did it all in 437 snaps, while the 4 players ahead of him had 850+.

With that being said, his 51.0 overall grade via ProFootballFocus was the 4th lowest on the defensive side of the ball for Cincy.

2019: Overall (51.o)/Run Defense (58.7)/Tackling (66.8)/Pass Rush (51.3)/Coverage (49.1)

Expectations are much higher for Pratt in 2020. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that he is no longer playing like a rookie.

Zac Taylor on LB Germaine Pratt: "Pratt was a rookie last year and he's not playing like a rookie this year. He's stepped up and made the strides he needed to make." #Bengals

— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) August 31, 2020

Pratt needs to play like a veteran in 2020. The Linebacker room saw an overhaul this offseason, and Pratt is the only linebacker on the roster beside Jordan Evans to have played a single snap in Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo’s system, with Evans only having played 76 snaps, compared to Pratt’s 437.

Pratt is entering the second year of his 4-year $4.1 million rookie contract, with a base salary of $684,555 in 2020.

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