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Steelers Rival Requests Trade From Bengals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Anthony Licciardi | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 6:11 AM ET

In a stacked AFC North, the margins between slipping out of contention and hosting a playoff game can be excruciatingly slim. Having a star quarterback, more often than not, is enough to push through the competition. But for a Pittsburgh Steelers team without a path to a franchise-changing passer, it's the margins increase in importance.

One such margin is the talent they can steal during the offseason. Like poaching linebacker Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens, improving while taking away from a rival is a way to make improvements twofold.

Pittsburgh finished in second place in the AFC North in 2024, and ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals. The latter will hope to rebound in 2025, but Steelers rival Germaine Pratt revealing his offseason request for a trade might complicate that matter.

After six seasons in Cincinnati, Pratt is ready for a new chapter.

“Bengals defensive captain and leading tackler Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, sources tell me and Tom Pelissero,” Ian Rapoport posted on Wednesday.

“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.”

Unlike Queen in 2024, Pratt isn’t necessarily a fit. His role would likely overlap more with Payton Wilson’s than Elandon Roberts’. Roberts is set to be a free agent in March, potentially putting Pittsburgh in the conversation for a between-the-tackles thumper against the run.

Pratt is at his best in coverage. At least, he was during his career year in 2022 when he generated two interceptions and 10 passes defended. In the years since, he’s still found two interceptions in each season, but his ancillary ball production has fallen; and while his tackles have increased, he’s never been much of a secure tackler.

If nothing else, Pratt is one more starter the Bengals have to replace this offseason. This could take resources away from re-signing Tee Higgins or extending Ja’Marr Chase, and upgrading over the middle of the field could prove to be expensive.

Cincinnati’s defense was among the worst in the sport in 2024, costing Joe Burrow a playoff run and wasting several elite offensive outputs. Pratt wasn’t an above-average starter for the last two seasons, but adding holes for the Bengals to fill is a win for the Steelers, even if they don’t look to acquire their rival’s leftovers.

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

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