Germaine

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.

With Pratt under contract, the Bengals have now signed their entire 2019 draft class. The High Point, North Carolina native led NC State with 104 tackles as a senior in 2018 while garnering first-team All-ACC honors.

Pratt (6’3/240) began his college career at safety before moving to linebacker for his final two seasons and breaking out as a senior for 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks while finishing second among ACC linebackers in QB pressures (26). Pratt tested just above par at the Combine with 52nd-percentile SPARQ results and 4.57 speed. Experienced inside and outside with obvious coverage skills from his days in the secondary, Pratt projects as an early-career starter at off-ball linebacker.

Pratt (6’3/240) began his college career at safety before moving to linebacker for his final two seasons and breaking out as a senior for 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks while finishing second among ACC linebackers in QB pressures (26). Pratt tested just above par at the Combine with 52nd-percentile SPARQ results and 4.57 speed. Experienced inside and outside with obvious coverage skills from his days in the secondary, Pratt projects as an early-career starter at off-ball linebacker.

Miller believes that Pratt is worth second-round consideration, and believes he has a chance to be a starter at the next level. One of the reasons for this is Pratt’s ability in coverage, as the 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker is a former safety and it shows. He does note that Pratt can struggle to disengage, and there’s really only one year of production. “Pratt might need some time to develop,” writes Miller, “but you can get him on the field right away thanks to his coverage ability and range.”

Linebackers who struggle in coverage aren’t very valuable in 2019 with the new wave of offense coaches game planning better than ever. That’s great news for Pratt (6'2/240), who began his collegiate career as a safety before adding weight and transitioning into a coverage linebacker role. Pratt doesn’t have elite speed (4.57-second forty), but his play in zone coverage is “pretty” and he has the instincts to come downhill, as well. Even if Pratt isn’t a three-down linebacker, he can still be a valuable part of an NFL defense and he’s not expected to cost a first round pick either.

Pratt (6'2/240) didn’t knock the NFL Combine out of the park, but it wasn’t the worst day either, at least when you look at his measurables. The former redshirt senior had a 32.5-inch vertical, which ended up being just below average relative to the rest of the class. On the field, Pratt made 54 solo tackles and with just six sacks, both scores finishing around average as well. Pratt isn’t in the same tier as Devin White, Devin Bush, or Mack Wilson, but he’s right behind.

Pratt (6'2/240) began his career as a safety before making the move to linebacker, and he showed up at last month’s Senior Bowl weighing 240 points. In Crabbs’ opinion the physical testing will be critical for the former NC State LB, as he’ll need to show that he’s still a high-level athlete despite adding the weight. “I didn’t necessarily see a lot of desirable short area twitch from Pratt on film,” Crabbs wrote. “So he’ll either need to show up lighter than he did in Mobile, or he’ll have to test really well with his burst and agilities”

As Muench notes, Pratt is a former safety, and the 6-foot-2, 241-pound linebacker was extremely productive after making the switch. Muench believes that it’s important for Pratt to show off his speed and run well enough to prove that he’s a three-down linebacker. “Bench-pressing 225 pounds in the range of 20 reps would help ease concern about his ability to take on blocks, especially considering he has slightly below-average length (31⅝-inch arms at the Senior Bowl),” he writes. There are a “big three” of inside linebackers with Devin White of LSU, Devin Bush of Michigan and Mack Wilson of Alabama. Pratt testing well would give him a chance to be the next backer on the list.

There’s a consensus on who the top three are -- and the top three order -- in LSU’s Devin White, Michigan’s Devin Bush, and ALabama’s Mack Wilson. After that, it gets a bit hazy, but Brugler gives the nod to Pratt (6'2/241). Brugler notes that he has the speed to make plays to both sidelines, and that he’s “comfortable” sticking with backs and tight ends in the passing game. He does also note that he can struggle to disengage at the second level, and that his “undisciplined” eyes could lead to issues in the play-action game. “Overall, Pratt needs to mature his take-on skills and play discipline,” Brugler writes in his summary, “but he competes with automatic reaction to movement and a combative mindset, projecting as a starting NFL outside linebacker.”