Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Raiders Could Reunite Jakobi Meyers & AJ Cole With College Teammate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 3:33 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders are currently rebuilding their franchise under new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll.

While they certainly needed to find upgrades after another disappointing season in 2024, the regime change spurred the loss of several fan favorites from previous years.

Both starting linebackers — Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo — were not brought back in free agency and they were replaced with Elandon Roberts, Devin White and Jaylon Smith.

While these players all have experience and could theoretically get the job done this season, none signed more than a one-year deal in Las Vegas.

On Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt had been released. The Raiders need a better outlook for the future of their linebacker room, and that could start with the signing of Pratt.

He played college football at North Carolina State from 2014-18, where he overlapped with current Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for four seasons and punter A.J. Cole for five.

Pratt also finished tied for tenth in the NFL last season with 143 total tackles, which was more than players like Bobby Wagner, Demario Davis and Fred Warner.

Las Vegas could certainly use a jolt like the 29-year-old Pratt, especially after losing a combined 221 tackles from Spillane and Deablo this offseason.

Over the course of his six-year career, Pratt has missed just four games and totaled 616 tackles. He also has 32 tackles for a loss, as well as seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 96 career contests (via Pro Football Reference).

Young linebackers like 2024 fifth-rounder Tommy Eichenberg, 2025 seventh-rounder Cody Lindenberg and 2024 undrafted free agent Amari Gainer are all looking to join the linebacker rotation in Las Vegas this season.

While the addition of Pratt may limit their opportunities in 2025, when Roberts, White and Smith are all free agents in 2026, these players could utilize what they learned and be primed for a breakout role next season.

Pratt provides both instant help for the Raiders at linebacker and eases the tension about the team's long-term outlook, so Las Vegas should at least kick the tires on him.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: