Chargers Just Got Gifted Perfect Trade Opportunity to Boost Defense
The offseason is about to kick into overdrive, with Super Bowl 59 officially in the books. Teams around the league have started planning ahead for the 2025 season.
The Los Angeles Chargers went 11-6 in the first season under Jim Harbaugh and made the postseason.
The roster still has some holes and the perfect linebacker just hit the trade block. According to Ian Rapoport, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt has requested a trade. He is someone the Chargers should look into acquiring.
#Bengals defensive captain and leading tackler Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2025
Cincinnati has been devoting resources to keeping their offensive core together and Pratt was close to DC Lou Anarumo, who was fired after last season. pic.twitter.com/NuP0TmxIZv
Germaine Pratt Has Requested a Trade From Cincinnati Bengals
The Chargers have Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye hitting free agency this offseason. Linebacker Daiyan Henley is heading into his third season and showed tremendous flashes. The 25-year-old was eighth in the NFL in total tackles (147) with seven TFLs and eight pass breakups.
While his development is exciting, the Chargers need another linebacker in the fold. Adding Pratt would be an outstanding addition and would give Los Angeles a top-notch linebacker duo.
Pratt has been in the NFL for six seasons, spending every campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has superb play recognition skills and flies sideline-to-sideline. The 28-year-old was 10th in the league in total tackles (143) with five TFLs and six pass deflections. This was his second straight season with 100 tackles and fifth straight season with at least 89 total tackles.
Pratt has one year left on his deal and is slated to have a $7.9 million cap hit in 2025. According to Overthecap.com, Los Angeles has $63 million in cap space and could easily absorb his contract.
Pairing Pratt with Henley would stabilize the middle of the defense. They had one of the top units this past season, and Pratt would add to it.
In 2024, Los Angeles was 11th in the league in total defense (324.4), seventh in pass defense (206.9), and 14th in run defense (117.5). In addition, they were first in scoring defense (17.1).
The Chargers need to make some moves to improve this squad, and Pratt could be one of those guys.
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