Pratt earned a starting role with the Bengals as a rookie in 2019 and never gave it up. He has started 77 regular season games plus seven postseason contests for the Bengals over the past five years. Pratt led the team with 143 tackles in 2024. He also tallied two forced fumbles, recovered fumbles, and interceptions in what might have been his final year in Cincinnati. According to Rapoport, Pratt was close with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo before he was fired at the end of the season. He is also about to enter the final year of his contract and the Bengals have prioritized spending on offense in recent years. It may be best for both sides if the veteran linebacker is traded. The Bengals can also clear $5.9 million in space if no trade partner is found and they choose to cut Pratt.

Pratt will earn $10.35 million in the first year of his deal according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The former third-round pick has started 54 games for the Bengals since joining the team in 2019, totaling 355 tackles, 20 TFLs, and three INTs. Pratt earned an impressive 90.1 PFF coverage grade last season, which led all linebackers.

Pratt began the 2019 season in a depth role, but he began regularly handling 60-plus percent of defensive snaps following Cincinnati's Week 9 bye. Given his strong play down the stretch, the 2019 third-round pick stands a fair chance of opening the 2020 season with IDP value.

Pratt has now logged double-digit stops in back-to-back games after not having done so prior to Week 15. He'll look to close out the season strong at home Week 17 against the Browns.