The Carolina Panthers took an important step forward in 2024 but it wasn't enough to get them back to relevance. Bryce Young's development and winning three more games than the year prior were nice but the Panthers still have ways to go before being as competitive of a team as the fans would like.
To do that, the Panthers need to improve significantly on the defensive end. They allowed more points than any team in the league and took a step back in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's second season.
The Panthers need reinforcements across various defensive positions. Fortunately for them, they now have the opportunity to solve one of their issues with a trade. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt requested a trade. He would make an excellent target on the trade market for Panthers GM Dan Morgan.
#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
Panthers Should Consider Trading for Germaine Pratt
Whether the Bengals will ultimately trade Pratt remains to be seen. They are notoriously unwilling to honor trade requests like they did with Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins last season. Pratt, as their long-time veteran, defensive captain and leading tackler, may also suffer the same fate.
Cincinnati would be wise to trade him, however. He has one more year left on his deal and at age 28, Pratt doesn't fit in their long-term salary structure. The Panthers should pounce on the opportunity.
Pratt is known as a tackling machine, finishing last season with 143 tackles. He added five tackles for loss, four QB hits, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Carolina will likely need to replace pending free agent Shaq Thompson in the offseason and neither Josey Jewell nor Trevin Wallace was particularly impressive last season.
Even though Pratt technically had a down season, receiving a 60.2 PFF grade and ranking as the 56th-best linebacker in the league, that would have made him the highest-graded linebacker on the Panthers roster. Considering he wouldn't take more than a mid or late-round pick, the Panthers should seriously think about acquiring him.